IT sector sounds out Kerala Govt for increased budget allocation

Group of Technology Companies (GTech) has proposed that the State budget allocate adequate funds for creating a facilitating infrastructure for IT industry.

V.K. Mathews, Chairman of GTech, industry body of IT and ITeS companies in the State, aired this demand ahead of the presentation of the Budget slated for Friday.

Overseas customers who visit Kerala cities should be convinced that they are dealing with companies located in cities which enjoy a facilitating environment.

Otherwise they would be concerned about the predictability and stability of businesses, Mathews said.

Sufficient funds needs to be earmarked for improving roads; monorail projects; effective measures for managing waste; providing clean water; vigil against epidemics; and better healthcare facilities especially in cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

Physical infrastructure at Technopark, TechnoCity, Infopark, and Cyberpark needs improvement.

To promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, especially among the youth, right incubation infrastructure needs to be created. Current incubation facilities are fast getting occupied.

Funds should be provided for setting up an industry body-driven incubation centre in Thiruvananthapuram on the lines of Start-up Village and in-house Technopark incubator.

According to Anoop P. Ambika, Secretary, GTech, sustainable entrepreneurship is the next big challenge for the industry in the State.

Is entrepreneurship just about cool mobile apps and young ideas? Or shall we look at long-term sustainable incubator ecosystems?

It is time that we equip people with adequate sales and marketing back-up to showcase their product ideas and be reviewed.

There is an urgent need to create a sustainable platform to help companies that have the potential but not the bandwidth to develop early business to be able to grow big.

Ambika suggests a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore for sustainable environment that promotes collective marketing and sales; IP procurement; and commercialisation of ideas.

GTech also proposed allocation of Rs 10 crore to set up an e-governance lab in association with Katalyst, proposed industry-led incubator, to give SMEs exposure to existing IT systems.