KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode has long been perceived as the IT gateway to Malabar, but without much success. But things have changed for the better and it is finally gearing up to fulfill the long-cherished dream. The UL Cyber Park, a project of Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) touted to be the first IT Park in the Cooperative sector in the country, is all set to be open for business, whereas the much delayed construction of the main IT building of the Government Cyber Park at Nellikode is also making good progress with authorities setting the deadline of March 2016 to open the space for business.
Says Joseph C Mathew, IT expert and Advisor to former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, “The two IT Parks in Kozhikode will help fulfilling the vision of making the entire state an IT destination. After Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, Kozhikode will become one of the most sought after IT destinations in the state with the potential to grow as the IT hub of Malabar,” he said.
Joseph Mathew also observed that IT companies would be eager to come to Kozhikode owing to the huge local talent pool. “Today a large number of IT professionals from Malabar are working in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.
IT Parks in Kozhikode will open immense opportunities and there is no doubt that companies will come with the aim to tap the local potential,” he adds.
According to officials, the two parks would generate around 5,000 direct employments and several thousands of indirect employments in the initial years. Promoters of the UL Cyber Park said that signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the companies is under way.
The Park will have major multinational and domestic Information Technology companies. In the case of the Government Cyber Park, the common facility centre has already started functioning and the construction of the main IT building is making good progress. “Around 60 per cent work has been completed and we expect to open the main IT building by the end of the current fiscal,” says R Ajith Kumar, CEO, Government Cyber Park, Kozhikode.
A few small companies have already started functioning at the common facility centre and officials say that bookings have been opened for letting spaces in the main IT building.
The Government Cyber Park will also have two centres in Kannur and Kasargod.