Government policies, availability of skilled manpower and a vibrant industry are some of the reasons that help Tamil Nadu attract investments from multi-national companies, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin said here on Sunday.
Inaugurating the Coimbatore Techno-campus of Cognizant he said the State’s annual software exports now was about Rs. 36,600 crore as against Rs. 29,490 crore the previous year. The Government was developing Information Technology parks in different locations in the State, such as Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelvelli. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi framed an Information Technology policy for the State in 1997.
Though globally the sector was affected by the economic recession, the slowdown had not affected the industries in the State. About 15 per cent of the country’s exports were from Tamil Nadu. The State was the third biggest economy in the country. It was known as South India’s Detroit and had attracted investments in different sectors, he said.
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The new facility of Cognizant here was located on a 23 acre plot in a special economic zone. In the first phase, the company had invested Rs. 180 crore. When Cognizant started its operations in Coimbatore in 2005 it planned to increase its headcount here to 400 in the first year. But, it went up to 900.
Coimbatore had a large number of industries and educational facilities. Hence, the company would be able to recruit from the institutions in Coimbatore and nearby places. The city also had connectivity, power, water supply and good air connectivity, he said.
Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja said inadequate infrastructure had been identified as one of the disadvantages faced by the electronics hardware manufacturing sector. Hence, the Centre had decided to establish Information Technology Investment Regions. These regions would be provided excellent infrastructure by the Government.
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Minister for Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Poongothai, said the Government was focusing on inclusive growth. Availability of quality education facilities and infrastructure helped in the development of the State. It was developing IT parks in different cities, including, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Hosur and Tirunelvelli.