Cabinet nod for action plan to sustain IT growth

Hyderabad, Apr 27 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet today approved the action plan to sustain growth of Information Technology sector in the state by facilitating setting up of 29 IT specific Special Economic Zones, highest in the country.

As part of its strategy, the Government decided to promote integrated satellite IT townships around Hyderabad and neighbouring Rangareddy, Mahaboobnagar and Medak districts and create IT-specific SEZ, both public and private, in different parts of the state, Information Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy told reporters here.

SEZ would have a built-up space of about 80 million sq ft with proposed IT employment to 8.45 lakh professionals in the next few years, he said, adding 10 IT hubs would be promoted in different parts of the state.

Jawahar Knowledge Centres, first of its kind in the country, would be promoted in a big way in the state to impart required skills to fresh graduates and make them technically and professionally competent for employment by the IT industry, he said.

With these initiatives, the IT sector in the state would be able to surpass the 51 per cent growth registered in 2005-06 with IT products exports of Rs 12,521 crore. Employment to 1.51 lakh was generated so far, including jobs to 65,000 in the last two years, he said.

The Cabinet also decided to allot 50 acres of land at a cost of Rs 50 lakh per acre to General Electric company to set up its allied units. The company would create jobs for 5000 people, he added.

UNI