Brand Vizag properly as preferred IT destination: VITA

April 13, 2016 07:56 am | Updated 07:56 am IST - VISAKHAPATNAM:

Creating conducive ecosystem and branding of Visakhapatnam with some domain-specific areas as its USP will take the city forward as a hub for IT and IT enabled services.

This forms the essence behind the vision formulated by Visakhapatnam IT Association which aims to increase the turnover to Rs.10,000 crore and employment to nearly one lakh - almost a five-fold growth in five years.

VITA president Ravi Eswarapu feels that with proper packaging to attract investors from outside and creation of a platform for queries and interactive sessions for new entrepreneurs to figure out opportunities would go a long way in taking Vizag to the next level.

High volumes

Of 100 small, medium and large enterprises based in the city, 80 per cent are in business process management (BPM) and knowledge process management (KPM) activity. Major players include Wipro, Tech Mahindra and IBM in software development field and HSBC, Patra, Concentrix and WNS are in KPM.

Mr. Eswarapu told The Hindu that Vizag was turning into a happening place for BPM and KPM sector which have high volumes and low returns. “Over the years it has emerged as a matured BPM destination whereas IT is at nascent stage,” he said.

The industry feels that anchor companies need incentives for their new projects following dim prospects of getting special category status to Navya Andhra Pradesh.

For branding, Mr. Eswarapu, who is the Director of Pena4 Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd, said the USP had to be created on domain-based IT services, low-cost delivery centres /commoditisation and an ecosystem to favour anchor and other investors.

Marketing offices

City offers ample opportunities for promoting investments in domains like defence, marine, petroleum, heavy engineering, processes, pharma, hospitals and health care. The SMEs should also be provided common marketing offices.

Admitting that events like CII Partnership Summit and International Fleet Review had created a buzz to know more about Vizag among international community, he said it was the right time now to package and showcase the immense potential of the city as the preferred destination.

Reverse migration

Recognising the crave for many IT professionals hailing from Visakhapatnam employed in the United States and the Europe to come back to their native place if they get suitable opportunities, the VITA has decided to open a platform to encourage reverse migration.

Though there is no dearth of entry-level employees for various IT and ITes in the city, there is severe shortage of mid-management personnel. “We hope by creating the platform and circulating information among member-companies on those seeking migration and those needing senior hands, we can overcome the talent crunch,” Mr. Eswarapu said.

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