WB IT Minister backs NASSCOM demand for STPI scheme extension

Hyderabad, Nov 28 (UNI) West Bengal Information Technology Minister Debesh Das today made a strong case for extension of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) scheme of concession till 2020.

The IT-BPO companies would be able to maintain the present high growth rate despite the weakening of dollar only if the STPI scheme was extended beyond 2009, he maintained while taking part in the inaugural session of the INFOCOM-2007, an international IT conference organised by the Business World and Cebit here.

''West Bengal Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhatacharjee had written to the Centre and I have followed it up by calling on Union Information Minister D Raja,'' he said, adding that unless the concessions were extended for another 10 years, IT companies, particulary small and medium enterprises, would not be able to thrive.

West Bengal had more than 500 IT companies, employing over 55,000 IT professionals, with an export revenue standing at Rs 3,600 crore last year, registering an increase of 46 per cent over the previous year.

The State had an ambitious programme of contributing 15 per cent of India's total IT/ITeS exports by 2010 and to stand third among states from the present sixth position, he added.

UNI