'K'taka committed to making Hubli IT hub'

Karnataka Revenue Minister Jagadeesh Shettar has reiterated here the state government was committed to developing Hubli as an IT hub and asserted that the government will spare no effort to attract the IT/ITeS firms to the region.

Speaking at the seminar on 'Job Opportunities in IT, BPO and Call Centres' organised by Career Zone, a call centre training and software development firm in Hubli he said the saturation in Bangalore had forced the IT/BPO to look towards tier II cities. Hubli had all the necessary infrastructure and more facilities will be provided, he stated.

The minister claimed that the IT Investors' meet held at Hubli last May had succeeded in boosting IT-related activities in the region.

Taking exception to certain politicians opposing the sanctioning of land to IT companies, Shettar said, "Some myopic politicians with vested interests are unhappy with IT firms coming to Hubli. Therefore they created a controversy over land earmarked for IT/ITeS near Rayapur on Hubli-Dharwad road stating the land was more suitable for housing the proposed law university."

Shettar said he had difficulty convincing the chief minister and deputy chief minister of the need to sanction the land for IT firms.

NRI and CEO of Sycamore Networks Gururaj Deshpande hailed the growing excitement for change among Indian entrepreneurs and leaders, and said such an attitude would help the country emerge as an economic and political power in the world.

Deshpande attributed the country's achievement in the economic front to the talented Indians who migrated to USA and other foreign countries in search of opportunities in the 70s.

He said the rich experience Indian technicians and managers gained by migrating to foreign countries had helped India in acquiring knowledge and also boost the economy.