The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has said 25 new software companies would set up offices in Visakhapatnam during the current fiscal.
The software services industry body said Vizag with its low-cost skilled manpower and better infrastructure plays out to be the main attraction among the mid-sized and global IT firms.
With the market showing signs of improvement, in comparison with 2012, the STPI anticipates increased investments in the SEZ during the year. During 2012, only 12 medium and small scale IT companies had set up their units here.
"This year we are anticipating nearly 25 units. Already seven companies have applied for approvals to open their offices in Visakhapatnam," said M P Dubey, joint director and officer in-charge, Vizag STPI.
In the next two years, he said, they were expecting IT and software exports from the SEZ to touch Rs 2,200-2,300 crore.
During 2012, against the industry target of Rs 1,500 crore exports, due to acute power crisis in the state, the IT SEZ had managed to see only Rs 1,400 crore exports.
Meanwhile, the STPI has requested the Andhra government to offer some relaxation on IT SEZ rules, making it attractive for fresh investments. "We request the government to allow us to lease more than 250,000 sft built-up area within the SEZ to IT companies. Due to state's indecisiveness on our plea, several firms are now looking towards Bhubaneswar," he said.
