VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to evolve transparency, the Information Technology (IT) department is contemplating to create a website to disclose the details of employment generated in the State so far, said IT Minister Nara Lokesh.
On Monday, Lokesh inaugurated offices of seven IT companies in K Business Space, Autonagar. The seven companies were set up by AP Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) in collaboration with APEITA which generates employment for 400 youth and deal in IT consultancy, e-learning IT/ITES services.
Speaking on the occasion, the IT minister said that as many as 30 small and medium IT companies set up their offices in the State in the last 90 days. Two new policies have been formulated by the IT department like Global Innovation Centre and Designated Technology Park (DTP) through which 60 per cent rental subsidy will be given to IT companies if 70 per cent occupancy is not registered.
Lokesh added that 26 per cent of mobile phones manufactured in the India are from Andhra Pradesh. Focus is being laid to bring cloud computing policy into the State, which will attract more IT companies to set up their offices in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the city. “Attracted to the incentives offered by the State Government, HCL came forward to provide 7,000 jobs for youth in the State by this November. In the first phase, the company sought 15 acres of land and now it has asked another 30 acres to materialise the project,” said the IT minister.
Stating that he was coming across questions like why the State Government is running after IT while the sector is in crisis, Lokesh said that they are concentrating on innovative products, new age technology and intellectual property companies. He admitted that the State lacks housing and basic infrastructure for setting up new companies. In this regard, focus is being laid in improving the infrastructure and developing IT ecosystem in the State, he said.
The IT minister also said that seven small-medium sized enterprises (SME’s) would be inaugurated shortly in Visakhapatnam, while Pi data Centre, the first of its kind in the country would be inaugurated in Mangalagiri on July 28. He admitted that electronic waste is a major problem in the State. In this regard, the government is holding talks with Singapore companies to sort out the issue.
“Plans are also afoot to establish an IT tech park in 100 acres land near Gannavaram Airport and another one along simliar lines in Visakhapatnam,” said Lokesh.
Later, the minister along with APNRT president Ravi Vemuru issued offer letters to eight youth belonging to Supreme Netsoft Private Limited. Ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Kollu Ravindra were also present on the occasion.