State records Rs.45,181-crore software exports: Minister

Highest growth in exports through Tier II and Tier III cities, says Poongothai Aladi Aruna

The State recorded software exports to the tune of Rs. 45,181 crore during 2009-2010, Poongothai Aladi Aruna, Information Technology Minister, said on Friday.

[However, according to information available on the website of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)-Chennai, the value of exports in the State was Rs. 36,765.53 crore.]

After handing over land allotment letters to various IT firms at Fort St. George here, she told reporters that the current year's performance was expected to be better [as the spell of economic recession was over]. Pointing out that the State had recorded the highest growth rate in the category of exports through Tier II and Tier III cities, she said the value of exports under this category went up from about Rs. 400 crore to around Rs. 900 crore. In terms of volume of exports, the State ranked second.

On the implementation of e-waste policy, P.W. C. Davidar, Principal Secretary in charge of IT Department and Santosh Babu, Managing Director of the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT), said the State government would work in tandem with the Union government. The Centre had formulated draft guidelines, the text of which had been made available in the public domain. The Minister said the Madurai and Tirunelveli IT/IT-Enabled Services special economic zones were ready for inauguration. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would formally declare them open soon.

An official release stated that as part of its efforts to bring IT to Tier II cities, the ELCOT had developed IT/ITES SEZ Parks in Viswanathapuram village (174.47 acres) of Hosur and Jagirammapalayam village (164.26 acres) of Salem.

In Hosur, work on the creation of infrastructure was under way at an estimated cost of Rs. 24 crore and the total investment proposed by the ELCOT was Rs. 48 crore. Besides, the Corporation was building a building of 50,000 sq. ft. at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.74 crore. Twenty seven acres were allotted to six companies.

In Salem, work on infrastructure establishment was in progress at a cost of Rs. 9.43 crore and the total proposed investment was Rs. 33 crore.

Five and a half acres were given to two companies. Already, six acres had been allotted to two firms in Salem.

The Hosur IT SEZ was expected to draw an investment of Rs. 2,000 crore and the Salem SEZ Rs. 800 crore, the release added.