Nashik-based STPI (Software Technology Park of India)-registered units have posted 88.46 per cent growth in software export in the fiscal year 2007-08. In the current financial year too, STPI is eyeing 100 per cent rise in the software export from Nashik.

Speaking to Business Standard, Sachin V Purnale, Assistant Director, STPI, said, "IT/BPO industry in both Mumbai and Pune has reached a saturation level. As Nashik is on the equidistance from both Mumbai and Pune, many IT/BPO companies are eyeing to extend their base in Nashik. But, lack of proper road and air connectivity is the main hurdle for the growth of IT/BPO industry in Nashik.

As a result, only two BPO companies- Tricom India Ltd and Datamatics Technologies Ltd have come to Nashik during last one-and-a-half year. Nashik may emerge as the major IT/BPO destination in the country if its infrastructure is developed at the earliest."

So far, around 20 units, including Tricom India, WNS Global Services, Datamatics Technologies Ltd, Aress Software & Education Technologies, Prothioes Engineering Services, ESDS Software, Object Edge Software, Web DreamWorks, Thinking Minds.Com, eLuminous Technologies, ESDS Software Solutions, Winjit Technology, Webminds Infotech, Gega Infotech, Kaizen Overseas, MaGaJa InfoTech, Neumann Systems Software, Net Solutions India Pvt.Ltd, Illusion Graphix, Sai Softwares, Unnosource Corporation have been registered with the STPI, for the software export.

Software export from Nashik has increased by 88.46 per cent to Rs 49 crore in FY 2007-08, against Rs 26 crore in FY 2006-07. The company had exported software worth Rs 12 crore in FY 2005-06 and Rs 9.5 crore in FY 2004-05.

Prothioes Engineering Services, which have its unit operational in Satpur (Nashik) areas of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), exported software worth Rs 16.8 crore in FY 2007-08.

The company is reportedly setting up its second unit in Nashik and it is expected to start operation in the current financial year 2008-09.

WNS Global Services, which has two units in Nashik with the headcounts of 1800, exported software worth Rs 14 crore during FY 2007-08 and Rs 11 crore during FY 2006-07.

Arres Software & Education Technologies, exported software amounting to Rs 6.7 crore in FY 2007-08 and Rs 4 crore in FY 2006-07. Mumbai-based Tricom India Ltd, which set up its BPO unit in Nashik last year, exported software worth Rs 2.4 crore. The company has headcounts of around 1,200 in Nashik unit.

Mumbai-based another non-voice BPO major Datamatics Technologies Ltd has set up its unit in Nashik. The company has bought 40,000 sq ft property near Mumbai Naka area of the city. This unit started operation in December 2007. The company exported software worth Rs 95 lakhs during the Q4 of FY 2007-08 ending of March 31.

Another Mumbai-based software company Unnosource Corporation has just registered itself with the STPI for software export from Nashik. The company is reportedly setting up its unit in Nashik and it is expected to start operation, shortly. Pune is the largest software exporter in Maharashtra, followed by Mumbai. Software export from Maharashtra during FY 2006-07 was Rs 27,625 crore, including Rs 15,350 crore from Pune and Rs 12,170 crore from Mumbai.

Maharashtra had exported software worth Rs 17,000 crore in FY 2005-06, including Rs 9,400 crore from Pune and Rs 7,530 crore from Mumbai. Maharashtra's software export in FY 2007-08 is still not made available, according to sources.