KOCHI: Homegrown IT products company IBS Software on Monday launched a fully-owned and managed campus at Infopark, Kakkanad -- its second dedicated campus after the one at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram -- which is expected to go on stream by April 2019, generating 6,000 jobs.
Speaking after unveiling the foundation stone of the IBS Software’s campus project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lauded the company’s founder and executive chairman, V K Mathews for continuing to repose faith in Kerala, and conveying the message that the state was investment-friendly, and not ‘hartal’s own country’ as was being portrayed by vested interests.
“The Information Technology (IT) sector has witnessed tremendous growth in the last couple of years. In the course of the organic growth of the IT sector over the years we have seen sudden spurt at various times. This should occur naturally and not by way of any external force,” he said, without directly referring to the Centre’s move to push digital transactions/payment systems.
The Chief Minister said V K Mathews was perhaps the only Malayalee businessman, who had made it big on the global stage though he began his entrepreneurial journey from Kerala and continued to invest here.
“There are other big Malayalee entrepreneurs but most of them achieved success through their ventures outside Kerala and some have come back to invest here too. Mathews is perhaps the lone exception to the norm-- a Malayalee, who set up shop in Kerala and continues to grow from our state,” Pinarayi said.
The CM said the government would continue to provide all support to the growth of the IT sector in the state. He pointed out that `300 crore was set aside for nurturing startups in Kerala. “The amount is not small for a state like Kerala,” he pointed out.
Mathews, who spoke earlier, said Kerala was poised for a take off in the digital era as all key indicators favour the state.
“Kerala is digitally ready. The 3.3 crore population have 3.2 crore smartphones. We have an approachable political and bureaucratic leadership. Ninety-five per cent of the population is covered under Aadhaar,” he said, adding, in terms of per capita GDP Kerala is placed a lowly17th, though, the state leads the country in Human Development Index (HDI) index. This must change,” he said.
According to him, Kerala was in second place as far as social and political stability were concerned and this was also a major factor for IBS Software to continue its investments here.
“The citizens in our state are aware of their rights, and they do not like to be exploited, which is very good. I make it a point to highlight this aspect of our state at every international fora,” he said.
Hrishikesh Nair, CEO of Infopark, said with the launch of the IBS campus, and coupled with proposed facilities at Lulu Cyber Tower and Brigade Technopolis, the total IT jobs at the software park would go up from the present 30,000 to 50,000.