The State is offering itself as an ideal platform to experiment the rural IT park concept, which is the third wave of IT revolution in the country.
P. H. Kurian, Principal Secretary, IT, says this will set up a benchmark for big players looking at smaller towns for investments to save on costs.
SMALLER TOWNS
“The first wave was confined to cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad, while the second covered smaller cousins such as Kochi and Pune,” Kurian said.
Skilled manpower and better logistics in smaller towns in the State can set pace for the new wave of IT revolution. At least 53 per cent of techies hail from rural pockets. The rural IT park is going to be a pioneering model, as big companies in the sector are driven by the cost advantage factor.
Considering the State’s repository of qualified and trained IT professionals, the cost of start-up projects are low when compared to other major IT destinations.
The State Government will showcase IT-related projects, including rural IT parks in various districts at the forthcoming Emerging Kerala Global Connect event.
NEW PARKS
It intends to invite private participation in these facilities during the three-day event that begins in Kochi on September 12.
New IT parks have been proposed at Kundara on the banks of Ashtamudi lake in Kollam; Pallippuram in Alappuzha; and Koratty in Thrissur.
Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), which is the nodal agency for the global meet, has identified 26 sectors and prepared a number of projects to be presented at the Kochi event.
“IT is one of key areas for the State which supplies a great number of skilled professionals to all major IT hubs in the world,” said Alkesh Sharma, Managing Director, KSIDC.
RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX
Another proposal being presented is a residential complex worth Rs 14 crore to house IT professionals at Kozhikode, an ideal Tier-2 city for IT and ITeS businesses. There are 40 IT companies in this northern city, and the project envisages development of an apartment building for leasing.
The state will also scout for partners to further develop the next stages of the Infopark at Kochi and Technocity (phase-IV of Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram).