The Telanagana Government is leveraging on the Centre’s “Make in India” campaign to attract investments into the nascent State. It is also banking on the “Digital India” programme launched by the Narendra Modi Government for utilising information and communications technology for “social change”.
“The focus now is on make in India and we are aggressively promoting our State to secure investments. There are a lot of discussions in the pipeline and we are expecting big things to happen,” Telangana Information Technology and Panchayat Raj Minister K. T. Rama Rao told The Hindu .
Mr. Rao had embarked on a whirlwind tour to the US in May to woo multinational companies to set shop in the State. He followed this trip with a visit to Taiwan and Malaysia. Now, he is planning to go to South Korea and Japan.
Mr. Rao’s efforts to woo industrialists have been fruitful so far. His trip to the US has resulted in securing investments to the tune of Rs. 3,000 crore. Mobile phone manufacturers including Micromax, Foxconn, Celkon, Lava and Karbonn have evinced interest in setting up their units in the State.
Earlier, corporate leaders like Google and Amazon have come forward to make further investments in the city. While Google is setting up its biggest campus outside the US at a cost of Rs. 1,500 crore, Amazon has decided to establish its largest procurement centre in Hyderabad. Microsoft is also stated to planning to further expand its operations in the State.
On June 12, when the Telangana Government launched its maiden industrial policy, ITC Limited announced that it would invest Rs. 8,000 crore in new as well as its existing projects in the State. The Kolkata-based Ruia Group also came forward to invest Rs. 500 crore.
The latest to join the list of investors is Hyderabad-based Value Labs. Mr. Rao said that the IT services company came forward to set up an additional 1 million square feet facility in the State capital.
Ten days after rolling out the new industrial policy, the State Government accorded approval to 17 projects, including that of ITC. The policy envisages approval of projects worth Rs. 200 crore and above in 15 days and less than Rs. 200 crore in 30 days.
As part of the Digital India programme, the State Government proposes to lay fibre optic cables to each household besides spreading digital literacy among people.
Mr. Rao said that the State Government is also pursuing the establishment of the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) proposed to be spread over 202 square kilometres around Hyderabad.
The State has sent proposals to the Centre for setting up of 5 clusters in the region. Though the onus of providing infrastructure in ITIR rests on the Centre, the Minister said, the Union Government is yet to release any money for this purpose.
There are a lot of discussions in the pipeline and we are expecting big things to happen
K. T. Rama Rao
IT & Panchayat Raj Minister
