Gujarat achieves IT turnover target of Rs 5K cr

With the current state IT policy nearing its completion in November 2011, Gujarat has successfully achieved its IT turnover target of Rs 5,000 crore much ahead of deadline. In the IT policy announced in November 2006, the state government had set a target of achieving Rs 5,000 crore turnover and 200,000 jobs in the IT sector.

"We have achieved our existing IT policy target for turnover. By November 2011, when the existing IT policy completes its tenure, we would have crossed the previous target. Moreover, we will revise the target under the new policy for the next five years," said a senior state government official.

According to the official, Gujarat government is likely to work on a revised draft policy in near future even as the current IT policy meets its deadline.

The said new policy will envisage guidelines for IT, ITeS, semi-conductor industry, IT-based application services and IT-based electronic service industries in Gujarat.

Apparently, the Department of Science and Technology and its nodal agency Gujarat Informatics Ltd (GIL) are preparing a rough draft with the help of a private agency.

Even as the new IT policy is being formulated, the senior state government official said that IT policies of other states including Karnataka are being studied, whereas top IT and related companies will be roped in for views and suggestions.

In terms of exports, the state has been growing steadily. Under the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) alone, Gujarat witnessed IT exports by STPI units to the tune of Rs 1,063 crore for 2009-10.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has been working on ICT adoption in education and e-governance, even as possibilities are being explored to capitalise on opportunities rising in the context of BPO, KPO, and semiconductor sectors.