The State has recorded a growth rate of 29 per cent in information technology as against the all-India figure of 12 per cent, said Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin while declaring open the IT park of ELCOT at the Sholinganallur Special Economic Zone near here on Thursday.
Claiming that the State's share in software export was substantial, Mr. Stalin said as against the country's export of Rs 2.02 lakh crore in 2008-09, the State's share was Rs.36,680 crore.
In the last financial year (2009-10), the exports were estimated at Rs.40,000 crore.
Many IT majors were evincing interest in setting up units in Tamil Nadu as technically qualified youth were available in large numbers and the investment cost was also less.
Unlike other industries, IT units were uniformly spread in the State as the policy of the government was to promote IT parks in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. Soon, ELCOT's IT parks would be opened in Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Hosur, Tirunelveli, and Vellore.
At the Sholinganallur IT park, major multinational companies such as HCL, Wipro, Satyam, Cognizant Technology Solutions and Sutherland Global Services had been allotted land. While WIPRO had commenced its operations with a staff strength of 11,000 IT professionals, HCL had completed construction of 10 lakh square feet and would commence production soon.
The government had spent Rs 50 crore for infrastructure facilities.
About one lakh people would get direct employment and 2 lakh people would get indirect employment after all the space was utilised by the companies.
Earlier, Information Technology Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said the State expected more investment in the IT sector this year as there was a turn-round in the industry. Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan, presided over the function.
Information Technology Secretary P.W.C. Davidar said the SEZ was approved by the Centre in April 2008 and was set up on 377 acres. He expected an investment of about Rs.4,000 crore in the park.
Santhosh Babu, ELCOT Managing Director, said ELCOT's other IT parks would begin operations by September this year.
