AHMEDABAD: Gujarat joined the mainstream of information technology development programmes with the signing of 19 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) here on Friday.

The MoUs, promising an investment of over Rs.11,000 crore and creation of more than 3.25 lakh jobs, were signed at the "Vibrant Gujarat IT Summit" held in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. B. Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Satyam Computers and Nasscom; S. Ramadorai, chief executive of the Tata Consultancy Services; and Kiran Karnik, Nasscom president, were guests of honour.

The MoUs signed with the State Department of Science and Technology included the setting up of nine IT special economic zones.

Fascel Limited signed an MoU for investing Rs. 2,500 crore to expand cellular services and thus create over 18,000 jobs.

Acqualines Properties would set up an information technology park in Vadodara with an investment of Rs.1,200 crore. This would provide 50,000 jobs.

Among the other MoUs signed were for the DLF Commercial Developers venture (Rs.1,360 crore and 60,000 jobs) to set up IT parks in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Vadodara; the Nitiam Infotech project (Rs.2,600 crore and 6,000 jobs) to set up an IT park in Gandhinagar; the Shivganga Real Estate Developers project (Rs.1,200 crore and 55,000 jobs) to set up IT and ITES parks in Gandhinagar, and the Adani group proposal (Rs.350 crore and 6,000 jobs) to set up an IT park in Ahmedabad.

Mr. Modi admitted that Gujarat was late in joining the mainstream of the IT development programmes but expressed confidence that the opportunities it promised would make the State a frontrunner in the technology by 2010. Mr. Karnik said though Gujarat "missed the bus" when other States were advancing in the IT sector, it was not necessarily the "best bus."

By 2010, export from India in the IT sector alone would reach over $60 billion. If the sector was shut down for even a single day, it would mean a national loss of over Rs.500 crore, he said.

Mr. Ramalingam suggested creation of "on-job training facilities" during the period students nearly completed their studies.

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