Exports from STP units up 15% to Rs 2,07,358 cr

The government today said exports from Software Technology Parks (STP) increased 15.1 per cent to Rs 2,07,358 crore in 2008-09.

Exports in 2007-08 were at Rs 1,80,155 crore, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He said three STP centres have been set up, taking the total number of units to 51, as part of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.

In response to another question, Pilot said, "As per information provided by the Manufacturers' Association for information Technology (MAIT), the consumption of computers recorded a negative growth of seven per cent in 2008-09 over 2007-08."

Sales fell from 7.3 million units to 6.8 million units, he added.

He said sales were improving quarter-on-quarter as per data available with MAIT and are expected to grow by 7-10 per cent in 2009-10.

"The drop in sales has been a reflection of the global economic downturn which had also impacted the domestic economy and hence the local consumption of IT hardware," he said.