Odisha government on Friday unveiled Information and Communication Technology Policy-2014 seeking to achieve gross ICT turnover including exports of software and IT services of Rs. 24,000 crore by 2020.
The ICT policy released by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at e-Odisha, an IT convention, says during the next six years efforts will be made to create direct employment opportunities for 60,000 professionals in 800 IT and Electronic System Design and Manufacturing units.
Moreover, the State would create a built-up space of 60 lakh square feet and a developed land bank of 2,000 acres for the sector.
The policy talks about incentives for IT industry, labour law relaxations for the sector, creation of both human and physical infrastructure for development of the sector.
As per the policy, an apex committee chaired by the Chief Secretary will be formed to monitor the policy implementation and approval of incentives.
This committee would meet every quarter to take stock of implementation of the policy. The Odisha Computer Application Centre will be the nodal centre for policy implementations.
Addressing e-Odisha, Chief Minister said, “The State government is committed for creating an open environment to attract investment from IT/ESDM industries and foreign investors.
In order to promote such investments, IT special Economic Zones (SEZ) have been established at Infocity and the second one is being established at Infovalley in Bhubaneswar.”
“The IT sector is today at the top of my government’s agenda and Odisha has been in forefront in the IT revolution in our country in the past 20 odd years. Four major IT players like Infosys, TCS, WIPRO and Mahindra Satyam have established their development centres at Bhubaneswar. The IT exports from the State have been very encouraging with the State registering an export of more than Rs.1,900 crore during the year 2012-13,” Mr. Patnaik said.
Similarly, Director-General of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Omkar Rai said while national growth was stuck in 10 per cent, the sectoral development in Odisha, especially Bhubaneswar, touched 20 per cent growth rate.
“Bhubaneswar is now in the same league as places like Chandigarh, Kerala and Coimbatore.”
State IT Minister Pratap Keshari Deb and IT Secretary M. S. Padhi also spoke on the occasion.
