IT companies export goods worth Rs 157,836.67 lakh

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (UNI) IT companies exported goods worth Rs 1,57,836.67 lakhs from Orissa between 2004-05 and 2006-07, state Information Technology Minister Suryanarayan Patro told the state Assembly today.

Replying to a question of Mr Saroj Kumar Samal(BJD), the Minister said 33 companies operating in the state had exported goods worth Rs 382 crore in 2004-05, Rs 465 crore in 2005-06 and Rs 732 crore in 2006-07.

Mr Patro said the Software export growth registered a 20 per cent growth in 2004-05, 22 per cent in 2005-06 and 58 per cent growth in 2006-07.

He said the Infosys Technologies topped the list exporting goods worth Rs 59,600.00 lakh in 2006-07, followed by Satyam Computer Services with Rs 8,002.40 lakh worth of goods export.

The Minister said the state government was not collecting any direct revenues from the IT companies but derived benefits in form of direct and indirect employment the companies provides to youths, premium towards land cost, rise in business opportunities in services sector ande conomic development.

He said the government had extended a number of incentives to the IT companies, including exemption of sales tax for five years besides exemption of electricity duty.

Responding to a another question by Mr Dhanurjaya Sidu(Congress), the Minister said the IT comapnies invested an amount of Rs 26,482 lakhs till the end of March last year in the state, including Rs 20,000 lakhs by Genpact Ltd, 50,000 lakh by ICICI Eastern Regional Hub, Rs 20,000 lakh by Mind Tree Consulting Ltd and Rs 10,000 lakh by Wipro Ltd.

UNI BD DP LL RL AS1757