More sops likely for IT hardware

The disinvestment minister, Arun Shourie, indicated yesterday that more sops to computer hardware industry were in the offing from the union government.

Stating that the recent incentives announced by finance minister Jaswant Singh had proved to be a big boost to the textile and IT sectors in the country, Shouri indicated that similar incentives would follow to encourage the growth of IT hardware industry.

Speaking to media persons after inaugurating the third GITEX exhibition here at HITEX international exhibition centre, the disinvestment minister opined that the IT had become people-friendly in Andhra Pradesh following the state government's efforts to bring about citizen-friendly governance and transparency in decision-making process using the IT platform.

He said that the computer hardware industry deserved more support as its reach would effect positive changes as were being witnessed in AP.

He expressed confidence that the proposed institute for smart governance at Hyderabad would become a hub for getting all the best practices available around the globe.

He termed the various IT initiatives by the AP government as very educative and viewed them as the inventive approach to local problems.

On the disinvestment front, the minister stated that AP had become a model for other states.

He particularly mentioned that the strategic privatisation and joint venture formats adopted by the AP government in the case sugar industry was emulated by the states like Uttar Pradesh, though with initial obstacles. He also mentioned the privatisation of Alwyn factory in Andhra Pradesh in this regard.