Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Satyam move to spur IT growth

By Santosh Patnaik

VISAKHAPATNAM: The announcement of Satyam Computer Services Limited (SCSL) of launching its operations in Visakhapatnam is bound to boost the information technology (IT) sector, particularly business process outsourcing (BPO) in the region. Prior to the formal offer made after a meeting with the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in Hyderabad, the SCSL chairman, B. Ramalinga Raju, stated here during a private visit last fortnight that Vizag had all the pre-requisites to emerge as a major IT hub, including BPO units.

HSBC was the first major firm to take the initiative of launching their operation last year. Before this, software development and call centre units were operating on a small scale. Dr. Reddy, who had expressed his resolve to showcase Vizag as an IT hub next to Hyderabad, was responsible for handing over 2000 acres near INS Kalinga to Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).

Twin cyber towers

"Apart from developing the area, we have been entrusted with constructing twin cyber towers in the heart of the city. For this, 10.5 acres of vacant land near Harbour Park has been allotted," the APIIC Officer-on-Special Duty (industrial investment and projects), K. Ratna Prabha, said.

During an internal survey, APIIC found that entrepreneurs would need 1.5 lakh sq ft. of developed area to locate their units.

For big n' small players

APIIC is yet to decide whether to construct cyber towers with private participation under BOT (build, operate and transfer) scheme or enter into a joint venture with reputed firms. "Now, our idea is to earmark one tower for big players and another for small and medium exporters,'' Ms. Ratna Prabha disclosed. Another big player in BPO sector, Softpro System has evinced interest to set up its unit in the city.

Export spurt

Several software professionals feel that this is the right beginning to transform Vizag as an IT hub. It is expected that Satyam and other IT units will go for a hard bargain in getting land at a nominal price. Sources said that some of the entrepreneurs who are interested in starting operations in Vizag have been seeking concessions on the plea that the incentives offered by Orissa for IT investors to locate their operations in Bhubaneshwar were irresistible.

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