Vijayawada: AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu today asked the officials to come up with proper plans to make Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Amaravathi as the best IT hubs in the world.
Speaking at a review meeting held on IT promotion, electronic manufacturing, innovation, start-ups, e-governance, e-Pragati and MeeSeva, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to start deliberations with the world’s renowned IT companies in this regard. Along with the renowned IT companies, the Chief Minister emphasized on the need to encourage small and start-ups with innovative ideas. The government was prepared to allocate land for development of IT sector in these three cities, he added. The Chief Minister enquired about the progress of the ongoing construction works of Millennium Tower in Visakhapatnam and instructed the officials to speed up the process. The Government has decided to construct Millennium Towers both in Tirupati and Amaravathi, he added.
Apprising the Chief Minister of the growth in the IT sector in the last two years, the officials said during 2014-15, the turnover of IT exports from Andhra Pradesh were to a tune of Rs 1,850 crore. It has increased to Rs 2,450 crore this year. The IT sector in Andhra Pradesh created 2,361 jobs in 2014-15 and in 2015-16 employment opportunities increased to 2,450. In the two years of the Andhra Pradesh Government, around 600 professionals were placed in various multinational companies. In order to promote Andhra Pradesh as an IT hub, 40 sft of office space was kept ready, the officials informed the Chief Minister. To provide an energetic environment that provides high productivity and collaboration, 1,30,000 sft space was getting ready in three major IT cities under the plug-and-play ecosystem.
The officials also informed the Chief Minister that IT majors Wipro and Tech Mahindra have already started their operations and Cognizant was ready to start from this month. They also informed the Chief Minister that detailed project report was ready for establishment of electronic manufacturing cluster in Tirupati. Incubation centers will be inaugurated in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kakinada in the near future, they added.
After a patient hearing, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to educate IT companies around the world about the IT Single Window Policy in Andhra Pradesh. The State Government was requesting the Centre to assist in the establishment of ITIR Region in Visakhapatnam. The Chief Minister ordered immediate digitization of services in 133 Government departments. He also said the State Government was in continues dialogue with the Centre for establishment of a separate Telecom circle in Andhra Pradesh. He also asked the officials to speed up the process of super computer system in Vijayawada.
The review meeting was attended by IT Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, Joint Secretary to CM P.S Pradyumna and others. (NSS)