Date:01/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/01/stories/2007060108360400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Incentives for IT sector likely: YSR

Special Correspondent

`Group of Ministers appointed to look into the matter'

SOMETHING TO CHERISH: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy gives away the 15th Hyderabad Software Exporters Association award to Shakti Sagar, MD, ADP Private Ltd, in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: The Central Government is seriously considering extension of incentives and benefits to the Information Technology and IT enabled services sector to accelerate the growth in the sector.

Responding to a request made by the industry to extend the incentives being given under the STPI scheme that is set to expire in 2009, the Centre has appointed a Group of Ministers headed by Pranab Mukherjee to look into the matter, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said.

Participating in the 15th annual awards function of the Hyderabad Software Exporters' Association here on Thursday, Dr. Reddy said that his Government was taking measures to ensure that a congenial environment prevailed here.

It was extending all possible help to provide logistic and other support to the industry, he said, complimenting the industry for clocking the Rs.18,500-crore mark in software exports.

Dr. Reddy gave away HYSEA awards in different categories for the achievements made by the industry. He also felicitated ADP managing director Shakti Sagar for his pioneering work in the industry, in particular, the efforts he had made for projecting Hyderabad as the best destination for the IT industry.

Satyam Computer Services chairman B. Ramalinga Raju exhorted the companies to participate in the Government's programmes.