IT exports from Hyderabad to cross Rs 25,000 crore this year

Bangalore, Feb 13 (UNI) Exports in the IT sector from Hyderabad is expected to cross Rs 25,000 crore this year compared to Rs 18,500 crore last year, Andhra Pradesh Special Secretary (IT Promotion) M Gopikrishna said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the IT industry in Hyderabad city was expected to provide direct employment to three lakh people and indirect employment to over 12 lakh people by 2009.

Stating that Andhra Pradesh was the most preferred IT destination in the country and ranked number one by NASSCOM among other destinations, he said tier-II cities like Visakapatnam, Tirupati, Kakinada and Warangal would be given more preference in the future.

The city, which had 40 IT Special Economic Zones, had attracted an investment of over Rs 27,000 crore during last year, next to Gujarat.

He said the state targeted a revenue of US Dollars Seven billion in this fiscal from IT exports.

A three-day IT Summit with main focus on 'Empowering IT With World Class Infrastructure' would be held in Hyderabad from March 20, he added.

UNI SR AJ 1507