Google, Sonata, Patni, Verizon and Qualcomm are among the companies eyeing Hyderabad to set up their own facilities, reports Business Line.
Several IT companies, who plan to set up own facilities with investments of Rs 50 crore and above, have approached the State for land allocation. In addition to the above, Intelligroup Asia, Celestica, DQ Entertainment, Knoah Solutions, Boston Consulting Group, are among those in the waiting list for land allotment.
So far, 670 acres has been allotted to ICT industry to build their own campuses and IT parks. Raheja, L&T Infocity, Ascendas have created over three million sq ft.
The Government has embarked on a series of measures to woo IT companies through specially-created parks and zones, including special economic zones SEZ.
The State recorded exports of Rs 8,720 crore in 2004-05, a growth of 64.5 per cent as against the industry average of 35 per cent. The ICT industry has created direct employment of about 1,25,000 to IT professionals.
Special Zones: As a part of this initiative, the Government proposes to create software product-specific SEZ in 200 acres of land to be developed by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority at Popalguda near Hyderabad.
Part of the 1,200 acres of land already in possession with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation ‘APIIC’ near the international airport, Shamshabad, Hyderabad, is to be developed as software product-specific SEZ in the first phase. Out of 5,000 acres of land under acquisition by APIIC, 2,500 acres has been earmarked for allotment to ICT industry both software/hardware in the second phase.
The State Secretary, Information Technology and Communication, Ms K. Ratna Prabha, in a release said, IT sector has topped over all exports from the State accounting for 45 per cent of the total exports of Rs 19,552 crore from the State.