Electronic hardware now under IT department

The Andhra Pradesh government has transferred electronic hardware from the Industries department to Information Technology & Communication in a bid to give greater focus on developing the sector.

State IT minister Ponnala Laxmaiah said here today that the IT&C ministry would formulate a new policy to facilitate rapid growth of the electronic hardware industry. The minister asked the industry body and department officials to come up with relevant proposals within a month.

The electronic hardware sector touched the Rs 6,500-crore turnover mark in the state during 2009-10. Exports accounted for Rs 650 crore during the period.

The sector has 300 industries employing about 60,000 people, according to the Electronic Industries Association of Andhra Pradesh (ELIAP). However, this is only 2 per cent of the country's total electronic hardware production.