Repositioning Hyderabad on the IT map

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is trying to “reposition” itself as a preferred destination for investments in Information Technology as the sector is showing signs of gradual recovery after a gap of over two years.
The Information and Communication Technology Department of Andhra Pradesh has sought to forge a partnership with the sector’s apex body Nasscom to help Hyderabad, and also the state, in the repositioning effort.
Members of Nasscom’s executive council, led by its (past) president Som Mittal, held a meeting with state IT Principal Secretary K Ratna Prabha here the other day and discussed the initiatives aimed at repositioning Hyderabad as a preferred destination for IT investments.
“First it was the global economic meltdown that cast a spell on the IT sector in Hyderabad. Next, the political turmoil in the state over the demand for and against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh caused a severe dent to Hyderabad’s image, thereby adversely affecting the IT sector’s growth. Hence the need for repositioning Hyderabad on the world IT map,” a senior official in the ICT Department said after the meeting.
While the ICT Department is about to announce the state’s new IT Policy for 2010-15, Nasscom has been requested to prepare a road map for promoting animation industry as well as engineering services as a new vertical in the IT sector.
The state government and Nasscom will work on policy measures for attracting engineering services companies in Andhra Pradesh with special incentives package. The policy measures will also include creation of Product Testing Laboratories for mission-critical operations.
Given the huge potential for graphics and special effects particularly in the Telugu film industry, the state government intends to work closely with Nasscom for promoting animation industry in Andhra Pradesh. “We want Hyderabad to emerge as a Centre of Excellence in the field of animation on par with Mumbai,” the IT official said.
Mittal, while promising full support to the state government’s initiatives, said the IT sector would continue to grow in the state, the current political turmoil notwithstanding.
The Nasscom chief also appreciated bringing the IT industry under the purview of Essential Services Maintenance Act and said it would provide the needed safety cover and enable 24x7 seamless operations in the state.