Wipro may set up base in Goa

Goa may soon figure prominently on the national IT map with Wipro expressing desire to set up shop in the state. Its chairman Azim Premji, who was in Goa last weekend, also had a meeting 45-minute meeting with Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane on Saturday.

The Chief Minister told the media that "Wipro is interested in coming to Goa," but refused to divulge further details and added that no specific project was discussed during the meeting. Rane said that industrialists are showing interest in IT sector in the state. The minister said that many IT firms in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai are increasingly looking at Goa as an ideal location for their units.

Rane also said a single-window system was necessary. He said the government can help the entrepreneurs by offering them land. He said the state's IT policy would be ready by September 15.

Once the policy is put in place the government will push aggressively to get more business to set up units in state, Narvekar said.

On September 5, top players in the IT field will have an interaction with state government officials at a day-long programme to be organised by the CII in New Delhi, he said.

He stressed that the state government's effort was to get IT firms to Goa and develop it into a knowledge industry hub. He said Goa has the potential skilled manpower to become such a hub.