Brand Hyderabad remains intact

Hyderabad, Jan 19 (PTI) The image of "Brand Hyderabad"among corporates appears to be intact and has overcome thefear of agitations over the separate Telangana issue.

Notwithstanding the agitations, there is a demand foras much as 5 to 6 million sf of IT space in the city,according to Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Department.

Ratna Prabha, Principal Secretary (IT), said duringthe last one year over 2 million sf of IT space in the statewas either sold out or leased.

"Initially in the months of January and February therewas a bit lull. However, as the year progressed, demandstarted shooting up," Prabha said.

She said it is notable that several biggies likeFacebook and JP Morgan have set up shops in Hyderabad, theepicentre of the statehood movement, during the peak ofTelangana agitations last year.

IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah recently said infotechgiant IBM has evinced interest to expand its activities inHyderabad and invest more.

A team from the Dutch chemical company Royal DSM metLakshmaih last week and held discussions over setting up itsback office and IT support centre in the state capital.

Lakshmaiah said the firm, which has a turnover of USD10 billion and 22,000 employees, already has a manufacturingunit in Pune.

Srikanth Badiga, Regional Chairman, Export PromotionCouncil for EOUs and SEZs, said the demand for IT space bysmall IT firms and BPOs picked up after the US and someEuropean countries started coming out of recession. (more) PTIGDK RSY