The new Information Technology (IT) Policy, to be introduced in the beginning of 2012 by the Gujarat government, envisages fiscal sops in the form of subsidies or incentives to the IT companies, the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, has said.

Gujarat's IT sector has achieved the target of an annual turnover of Rs 5,000 crore six months prior to the completion of the existing IT policy period, 2006-11, he said.

According to a Nasscom report, Surat and Ahmedabad are now positioning themselves on the country's IT map, he said in his inaugural address at e-India-2011, the country's largest ICT event, according to an official release here on Saturday.

Mr Ravi Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, State Department of Science and Technology, said the new IT policy would focus on making human resources available to the IT set-ups, developing infrastructure for the IT industry, easing the process to set up new businesses and lowering land prices. The new policy will be in tandem with the Centre's IT policy.

The IT and ITES industry's exports from Gujarat are likely to rise to Rs 1,200 crore during 2011-12, with a growth of 10 per cent from last year.

Also, after being awarded for the best e-governance, the State government has now introduced the concept of “mobile governance” (or m-governance) for greater application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in offering citizen-based services.

This is in line with the State government's focus on growth and development of new and emerging technologies and its benefits include improved reach, more transparency and reduced response time and costs.

Gandhinagar hosted the 7th edition of e-India 2011 from December 14 to 16, where over 4,000 representatives from the ICT, government, academia and private sectors, both from India and abroad, shared the knowledge about best practices for development in ICT. The previous six editions of this premier event were held either in New Delhi or Hyderabad.

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