New IT park in Chandigarh stimulates growth in sector

The establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP) here has proved to be a turning point in the economic transformation of the region. Not only has it attracted many Information Technology/ Information Technology enabled Services (IT/ITeS) companies but has also helped in expanding IT activities in nearby cities like Mohali in Punjab and Panchkula in Haryana.

This also has led to huge employment generation in the region, as the IT/ITeS sector is employing around 25,000 people in these cities coupled with mushrooming growth of technical institutions.

Further, software exports from the Chandigarh capital region (comprising Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali) is the testimony to the fact. The software exports from the region was Rs 1565.33 crore in the financial year 2010-11, whereas in 2002-03 it was Rs 103.35 crore. Last year alone, it registered a growth of about 31 per cent over the previous financial year.

Out of a total exports in the 2010-11, exports amounting to Rs 852.33 crore was done by units which are registered with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Rs 713 crore by units which are located in SEZ (special economic zone).

Infosys, Dell International Services, IDS Infotech, Nvish Solutions and Emerson Design Engineering Centre are among the top five companies which performed well in terms of exports from Chandigarh capital region.

In recent past, the region has attracted many new start ups and number of IT/ITeS units has increased from 145 in 2002-03 to 242 in 2010-11. Earlier, in an interaction with Business Standard, joint director and centre head STPI, Mohali, Ajay P Srivastava said, “The growth in this region has been fuelled largely by the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”

In 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the RGCTP.

Not many multi-national companies have set up their facilities in Chandigarh and therefore a large number of professionals shift to bigger cities for greener pasture. The setting up of RGCTP and the IT companies operating in the city are a major step in the direction of redressing that imbalance

On being asked about the quality of the talent pool, Agilyst Consulting founder and president, Mahesh Dhillon, said, “Given the number of good institutions of higher education, the region has a good supply of smart candidates for entry and junior level positions including first line supervisory. Earlier, the smarter of the pool would go to the metros to pursue challenging and better paying positions."

"However, given Chandigarh's emerging status as a location for the IT/ITeS sector as well as other services hub, many of these people are being attracted back,” he added.