CHENNAI: Union Communications and Information and Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran, on Wednesday, said his ministry will soon forward a note to the Cabinet recommending extension of incentives under the STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) scheme beyond 2009.

Addressing a press conference after inaugurating the Chennai Development Centre of MindTree Consulting Pvt. Ltd. at the Olympia Technology Park here, Mr. Maran said he favoured extension of incentives under the scheme beyond 2009.

The Minister heaped praise on Tamil Nadu for its success on the SEZ front.

SEZs brought in a lot of investment and came up in the shortest time span.

In this context, the pointed to the success of mobile phone maker Nokia in kick-starting the venture fast. "SEZ is a must for Tamil Nadu,'' he said. Mr. Maran also indicated that the SEZ of Flextronics would go on stream on November 4.

On the semiconductor policy, he said his ministry had already sent a note to the finance ministry.

"We are waiting for the finance ministry's reply," he added.

Earlier, inaugurating the Chennai Development Centre of MindTree, Mr. Maran said the world today respected India as a super power in IT. However, the Indian IT industry was built by `ordinary Indians,' he pointed out.

The Chennai centre has come up on a 30,000-sq. ft. space and will employ around 300 people. It will focus on IT-related and R&D activities.

Ashok Soota, Chairman and Managing Director, said MindTree had also signed up for a 2.85 lakh sq. ft. facility at the Ascendas IT Park in Mahindra World City. This would go operational in 2007-08.

The company had also entered into a 90-year lease pact for 20 acres with the Orissa Government to set up a development centre in Bhubaneswar.

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