Students chalk out IT growth strategy for Gujarat

SP Jain Institute of Managment students' case study selected best for GIL

Gujarat must harness its human resources, set up institutes, offer scholarships to deserving students, tap the state's NRI base, lure investors with tax, land and power incentives, and implement IT at all levels of administration to become successful in the field of information technology.

These are some of the recommendations made to Gujarat Informatics Ltd (GIL) as part of a technocrat case studies contest organised ahead of Confluence 2004, the annual B-School meet of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The contest was open to participating B-Schools.

A case study by Anubha Jain and Mamta Hunasikatti of the S P Jain Institute of Management and Research was adjudged the winner in the contest.

The case study identified environment, infrastructure, IT investments, special economic zones, land, power and tax incentives, e-governance and human resources as key factors for information technology development in the state. It suggested steps that GIL needs to adopt in each of the key segments.

The winning team said that GIL will be able to lay a foundation for infrastructure development and employment generation through IT investments.

The case study pointed out that setting up of SEZs and offering various sops will attract IT clusters and investments into the state. E-governance and ensuring a critical mass of IT talent through proper human resource development will greatly enhance the state's image by providing the right environment, the study pointed out.

"Gujarat already has instruments like an IT policy, the Infocity Project, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) and Gujarat Venture Finance Ltd," said Anubha Jain, one of the members of the winning entry.

Mamta Hunasikatti, the other team member, said: "The rich non resident Gujarati base, a pro-development Gujarat and the resilient and enterprising Gujarati spirit should be counted on by GIL."

The team has also recommended that GIL take steps to attract companies like TCS, Wipro, Infosys into the state.

According to a finding by the team, 41 per cent companies were willing to invest in the IT sector in Gujarat. The study also focused on law and order in the state, its infrastructure, governance and policy issues.

The second prize for the contest was bagged by the team of Jubin Smitha and Gautam Shrivastava of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, while the third prize was won by Saibal Chakraborty and Kaushik Banerjee of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.