State on top in software exports

spite the global recession, Karnataka continue to lead in software exports which touched a margin of Rs 71,000 crore in 2008-09.

“Exports in the IT sector registered a growth of 35 per cent in 2008-09 when it touched Rs 71,000 crore compared to Rs 58,000 crore in 2007-08. We are still number one”, Minister for IT-BT and Information Katta Subramanya Naidu told reporters here today.

The third edition of “Bangalore IT.Biz” would be held here from November 11, 2009 for which the government has planned to approach at least 800 firms to participate in the event, he said. It would be a forerunner to the Global Investors Meet planned by the state to attract investors in January, he added. The Mexican government, which partnered the second edition of IT.Biz, has agreed to associate itself with the coming edition too, Naidu said.

Top business leaders like Tata Group Chief Ratan Tata, Reliance Industries head Mukesh Ambani, Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy and Wipro Chariman Azim Premji would be invited to the event, he said. The government is also planning to unveil a new IT policy to attract more investors, besides a policy on Bio-technology, hardware and the semiconductor sector.

The government was making efforts to persuade IT firms to undertake a recruitment drive during the event and offer at least 1,000 jobs, he added.