Satyam does spadework to set shop Kerala

Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer Services has evinced keen interest in setting up a development centre in Kerala.

Mathew Daniel, head of business operations, Midwest, West USA, Satyam Computer Services, said: "We are keen on a centre in Thiruvananthapuram. We are now awaiting the go-ahead from the government."

Daniel added: "We would like to have 30 acres where we would build our own campus. As of now, Satyam believes that Thiruvananthapuram is the ideal place where IT has the potential to grow. But it depends on the attitude of the government." The company has sought 30 acres of land here to build its own campus.

Daniel said a proposal has been submitted to the Kerala IT Secretary Ajay Kumar, Chief Minister's IT advisor Joseph Mathew and Chief Minister's political secretary K N Balagopal. "We are prepared to wait till the government comes back to us with a decision. Satyam hopes that the plans will materialise fast," he said.

"If the go-ahead comes from the government, Satyam will kick start operations from the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark campus. This will be done if the company gets 20,000 sq feet of space. With a space of 20,000 sq ft in the first phase we would be able to generate at least 2,000 new jobs," Daniel pointed out.

According to Daniel, "We will start the second round of our efforts by sending a three-ember team to meet the Chief Minister. This would then be followed up by extending Satyam's invitation to the IT officials in Kerala to visit our headquarters in Hyderabad to meet company Chairman Ramalinga Raju."

With Kerala being the only state where Satyam currently is absent, the company is keen on making its foray. However, it needs to be seen how the government looks at it, he said.

The Satyam official, meanwhile, added that the company would be keen only on operating out of Thiruvananthapuram, and not Kochi.

"Kochi is turning out to be a place where space and other infrastructure facilities are hitting a low. Further, we consider Thiruvananthapuram to be the ideal place for IT development, while Kochi should be seen as a BPO destination".