Bengal aims at doubling S/W exports to Rs 3,600cr

The West Bengal government has set a target for doubling software export from the state to Rs 3600 crore in 2004-05 against Rs 1,800 crore last year, IT minister Manab Mukherjee said recently.

"We are targeting 100 per cent growth in software exports this year. Total software export, which stood at about Rs 1800 crore last year, is targeted to be increased to Rs 3600 crore in 2004-5," Mukherjee told reporters in the city yesterday.

Expressing confidence in achieving the target, the minister said the state was on course to secure 15-20 per cent share of total software exports from the country by 2007.

Besides increasing software exports, the government was also taking steps for spreading IT literacy among the masses through training programmes in schools and colleges, he added.

While the IT training was being imparted in about 1000 schools through government and private initiatives, "we are planning to introduce the programme in another 2500 schools this year," Mukherjee explained.

The government, he said, was negotiating with multinational IBM for the project. "Our aim is to bring one million students to IT literacy programmes in the schools every year".

About the state's initiative to get the centre's nod for sub-marine cable landing station at Haldia, he said, "We have written to the new union communication and IT minister Dayanidhi Maran on the matter and was awaiting response. He said he was keen that the project be initiated as soon as possible and would provide all possible support for the purpose".

The minister earlier inaugurated a 'computer awareness week' launched by the happy group of companies at 'Happy e Zons' cyber-cafe chain.

These chain of cybercafes also had taken up other activities like selling of all Bharat Sanchar products like telecom packages like mobile connection and WLL phones along with internet and direct internet access services.