Videocon to set up new IT unit in Bengal,provides 25,000 jobs

Kolkata, May 18 (UNI)Television major Videocon Industry has decided to diversify into IT sector and plans to set up a BPO unit at the Salt Lake industrial zone here offering 25,000 employment,Videocon Chairman Venugopal Dhoot said here today.

Speaking to UNI on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the 7th Left Front ministry under the leadership of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, Mr Dhoot said he had already held detailed talks on the issue with the chief minister and decided to go ahead with the project in a time bound manner.

"During my proposed meeting with the chief minister this evening I will take up this project with him again as I propose to complete it within the next two years. I will also seek some more land for setting up a manufacturing unit in Rajarhat area," Mr Dhoot informed.

The chief of the Rs 1500 crore Videocon industry who flew in here this morning at the invitation of the chief minister said,the IT unit alone would employ about 25,000 people,mostly IT experts,within the next two years in order to make a major contribution in the fast emerging IT industry in the state.

Regarding his plan for establishing a separate colour television component manufacturing unit in the new industrial hub at Rajarhat, he said he had already applied for 100 acres of land to the state government for this project.

"I will take up the issue and reiterate my demand for land during my meeting with Mr Bhattacherjee and hope to strike a final deal soon," he said.

Mr Dhoot, however, refused to divulge the size of his investment in either of two units."The investment in the IT sector will not be much since the main emphasis has been given on creating a sizeable employment opportunity for the educated youth in the state," the Videocon chief said.

About the propoased manufacturing unit at Rajarhat he said since the plan was still at an early state,the cost factor was yet to be decided in consultation with the new ministry.

Showering praise on Mr Bhattacherjee he described him as the "best performing chief minister by all counts" and hoped that following his dynamic initiatives unemployment in the state would soon disappear.

Even quoting from the recent remarks of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had termed the West Bengal Chief Minister as a "model CM", Mr Dhoot observed that he should be followed by all others.

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