'The problem of a technical school remains'

Q&A/ SANJAY TYAGI

Eight years after its inception in 1998-99, the Software Technology Park of India's (STPI's) exports stand at Rs 263.07 crore from Punjab and Chandigarh. The projection for 2005-06 is Rs 450 crore.

Business Standard spoke to STPI Regional Director (North) Sanjay Tyagi about rising software exports from the region and the STPI's plans for tier 2 and 3 cities in Punjab.

At what rate are the STPI exports rising in the region ? What is the projection for this year ?

STPI exports are continuously rising in the Punjab and Chandigarh region. In 1998-99, exports from Punjab and Chandigarh stood at Rs 7.76 crore, whereas for this year, the projected amount is Rs 450 crore.

In 2004-05 the exports figures stood at Rs 267.88 crore. In 1998-99, exports from Punjab stood at only Rs 2.09 crore only. Today, exports from Punjab itself stand at Rs 208.93 crore.

Where do we stand in IT & ITES as compared with the Silicon Valley ?

After eight years of hard work, we have definitely achived critical mass, but are still way behind the Silicon Valley of India, namely Bangalore. The total export from Karnataka is about Rs 36,000 crore.

We are not ready, in terms of either infrastructure or manpower to achieve even 10 per cent of that. The idea is to develop CCR (Chandigarh Capital Region) on the lines of NCR (National Capital Region) Delhi-Gurgaon""Noida.

How many companies are at present registered under STPI in the region ? By how much has the number has risensince last year ?

Today, about 210 companies are registered with STPI in this region""116 in Chandigarh, and 85 in Punjab. In 1998-99, we had 6 companies registered, 4 in Chandigarh and 2 In Punjab.

Will Wipro be part of both Chandigarh and Mohali ? How much land has been alloted to Wipro by the Punjab government? When will it begin operations?

Both the Punjab government and Chandigarh administration have offered land to Wipro. It is up to them to decide the location. No time line has been given by Wipro for starting operations there.

Will the tax holiday be extended after 2009 as well, in some other form ?

Tax holidays will remain after 2009, through the STP scheme or the SEZ scheme.

What is your take regarding tier 2 and 3 cities of the region, since IT & ITES is limited to Mohali in Punjab now?

All IT-based industries have plans to set up base in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, provided properinfrastructure exists there. We are planning for the next 10 years.

There are other potential cities in Punjab like Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, etc. However, we want to give one sucessful example in Mohali first, and then move forward.

What about human resources? Do you think the problem has been solved?

We have fresh engineering graduates. Also, people working elsewhere are very eager to relocate to this place.

But the problem which still remains is that of a finishing school which will provide the training to these technical graduates and bridge the gap between the industry requirement and skill set of the man power available.