The Hindu : Business : IT exports from Technopark to cross Rs. 600 cr.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 18, 2005

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Business

IT exports from Technopark to cross Rs. 600 cr.

P. Venugopal

More land to be acquired for expanding operations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IT exports from Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram are expected to cross Rs. 600 crores this year, according to Information Technology secretary P. H. Kurien.

"We are in the midst of a virtual boom in IT activity," he told The Hindu "All the companies in Technopark have grown and are growing. And new companies have started coming here in a big way."

He said the 86 companies functioning in Technopark currently employ close to 10,000 professionals. The trend suggests that the number could double in another two or three years.

Availability of land is the only constraint at the moment. An extent of 242 acres of land acquired and developed in the first phase of Technopark's development has been fully utilised. The total built-up area occupied by IT companies at Technopark is 21,70,000 sq. ft. The acquisition of 100 acres more ill be completed in a couple of months. This land too has been fully booked, Mr. Kurien said.

He said the area surrounding Technopark would soon turn into an "IT corridor." Earlier, there used to be local resistance to land acquisition programmes. However, the local residents are now coming forward with offers of land. He said IT majors have started recognising Thiruvananthapuram as one of the best destinations in the country. Blue chip companies such as Infosys, TCS, Ernst & Young, Allianz Cornhill, Link Air, Mckinsey and Co., Tata Elxsi, Alamy Images, RM ESI and Sherston ESI now have a presence in Kerala.

Companies such as US Software, IBS, SunTec, NeST, IVL, Ushus Technologies, Softex, Toonz Animation, Iridium and M2 Software have grown several fold over the last four or five years. Mr. Kurien said the next phase of IT development in Thiruvananthapuram would involve the acquisition of 500 acres of land for a `Technocity.' The department has a long list of inquiries from individual companies and also developers who want to invest in IT infrastructure in Thiruvananthapuram.

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