|
Feature Articles Archives
|
|
The Economic Times, India
|
May 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
IT’s happening in Mysore
|
|
|
Software Paradigms (India) Pvt. Ltd.
|
|
This city is all set to emerge as a major IT hub in the state, says Mini Joseph Tejaswi
IT’s happening in Mysore. The city commands “top priority” among tech enterprises that are contemplating expansion in Karnataka. By and large, what makes the city a “hot zone” is its unmatchable credentials as an ideal extension to the silicon capital, Bangalore.
In fact, kick-starting tech-related businesses from Mysore could be easier than from any other secondary city in the entire state, say industry observers. In addition to cost-effective infrastructure, the city produces over 5,000 graduates and 2,000 engineering graduates.
Among all other secondary cities, Mysore probably could be the most preferred and high growth-centric destination. “The government is very keen to see that the growth of the knowledge industry is spread across all secondary cities including Hubli-Dharwad, Hassan,
|
Gulbarga, Mangalore, Manipal, Belgaum and Mysore,” says the state IT secretary, Shankarlinge Gowda.
Mysore raked in a software export turnover of Rs.309 crore during fiscal 2004-2005, a 72 percent growth against Rs.180 crore in the previous year.
Scaling up
A sizeable tech hub is clearly emerging in the royal city of Mysore. For instance, the city will have a knowledge worker population of over 20,000 by March 2005. Mysore has over three dozen IT companies with big names being Infosys Technologies, L&T, Software Paradigms India, Excel Soft, Raman Infotech, WiFiyNet, Aspire Communication, Signefera and Logrosoft.
The city already has over 5,000 IT professionals. Infosys alone is planning to recruit another 3,000 to 5,000 people during this fiscal in Mysore. L&T will ramp up its people front by another 2,000 while Software Paradigm India will hire another 2,000 people. Its small and medium IT players too would be scaling up their staff by a minimum of 5,000 in the next 12 to 18 months. New entrants Wipro Technologies and IBM would have their share as well.
Exports on the rise
Gowda says this year, Mysore accounted for software exports – through Software Technology Parks of India – worth Rs.400 crore over last year’s Rs.180 crore. “The completion of the Bangalore-Mysore express highway, doubling the Bangalore-Mysore rail track and upgradation of the airport will give an additional impetus to the city’s tech and infrastructure growth,” he adds.
Mysore raked in a software export turnover of Rs.309 crore during fiscal 2004-2005, a 72 percent growth against Rs.180 crore in the previous year. “Along with other destinations, Mysore’s contribution is an integral part of the state’s total software export performance,” says B.V.Naidu, director of STPI-Bangalore.
Karnataka exported software worth Rs.27,600 crore during last fiscal. “The growth achieved by Mysore is in line with our strategy to expand the industry to secondary cities. Ideally, the city can offer a 50 percent cost advantage in terms of people, infrastructure and other operational costs,” Gowda adds.
STPI has been playing quite a supportive role to promote the growth of IT in the city. STPI offers incubation facilities, decentralized datacom and statutory services, state-of-the-art connectivity and earth station infrastructure to its member companies.
Software Paradigm India, which was set up with just three people in 1997 currently has over 400 people. Last year, the company posted a turnover of Rs.260 crore as against Rs.5 lakh in its first year of operations. “Mysore seems to be completely IT ready and growing,” says SPI managing director K.K.Mookerji.
An NRI attraction
Apart from domestic IT players, Mysore has also been attracting many NRI investors and entrepreneurs. “NRIs are increasingly looking at Mysore, as Bangalore has become unaffordable and congested,” says a Bangalore-based realty developer.
So, it’s time for Mysore to play its IT card.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
