GESIA, GIL to set up incubation centre

In a bid to promote local information and communication technology (ICT) and industry-ready manpower, the Gujarat Electronics and Software Industries' Association (GESIA) along with Gujarat government promoted Gujarat Informatics Limited (GIL) has initiated work to set up an incubation centre.

The incubation centre will look to encourage start-ups exclusively in the ICT industry and provide funding assistance. To build sufficient manpower, the industry body and GIL will rope in Gujarat Technological University (GTU) to link educational institutes with the incubation centre, said Sunil Kakkad, president of GESIA.

"This is one of the ways we hope to promote local ICT industry in Gujarat. Also, we have requested the state government to involve more Gujarat-based IT and ICT companies for its various ITeS and related infrastructure projects," Kakkad added. Comparing Gujarat with Karnataka, Kakkad said that while 80-85 per cent of Karnataka government's IT related projects are directly handled by the local industry, in Gujarat the share of local firms is only 10 per cent.

The IT industry in Gujarat pegged a turnover of over Rs 5,000 crore, including Rs 1,500 crore worth exports. GESIA also hopes to expand IT employees' strength in Gujarat.