Minister for Information Technology N. Lokesh said on Friday that a policy on Cloud Hub and Artificial Intelligence (AI) was on the anvil to facilitate the entry of IT companies specialising in these domains, and asserted that two lakh jobs (1,00,000 each in the IT/ITES and electronics manufacturing/assembly sectors) would be created in the next two years.
Inaugurating PhyCare Services India Pvt. Ltd. (PSIPL), a leading BPO in health care, at the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s (APIIC) 22-acre IT cluster here in the presence of Principal Secretary (IT) K. Vijayanand, APIIC Executive Chairman P. Krishnaiah, and PhyCare CEO Sudha Pentyala, he said an investment of ₹220 crore had already been made and 200 acres allotted to IT companies in Amaravati. Besides, HCL Technologies was poised to commence operations at Gannavaram in the near future.
“In 1995-96, people laughed at the idea of transforming the present Cyberabad into an IT hub. At that time, there was nothing there except stones. A single-lane road lead to the rocky area. Today, it is the most sought-after destination for IT companies in India. Similarly, the Mangalagiri IT cluster may not be a big thing now, but I am sure it will grow into a vibrant IT ecosystem over the years,” Mr. Lokesh observed.
The Minister said nearly 30% of the IT employees in foreign countries were from AP and they were keen on setting up units in their native State. The government would extend all support, like it helped the PSIPL, in foraying into the capital region to give them the best ecosystem and provide the much-needed jobs to local youth.
Mr. Lokesh said two out of every 10 cellular phones made in India were from Sri City, which was giving a tough competition to the Gurgaon-Noida industrial belt.
Karbonn is establishing its unit in Sri City and it is scheduled to be inaugurated in September. The government plans to offer training in operating drones in three months and it is setting up Centres of Excellence (CoE) like the one it envisages for smart cities.
