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Software exports from Kerala to cross 
2 billion
Wednesday, 13 November 2002, 20:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Software exports from Technopark on the outskirts of this Kerala capital are set to cross 
2 billion this year as more companies have set up shop.
The 156 acre Technopark has 55 companies housed in an 800,000 square foot building space and employing close to 1,500 IT professionals as well as 500 other workers. About one-third of another 500,000 square feet of building space has already been booked.
Exports from the software park were worth 1.46 billion in the last calendar year and would cross 2 billion this year as more companies had begun operations, said Technopark chief executive officer, Rajiv Vasudevan.
"This is just the beginning of a bright future for Technopark because very soon we would have infrastructure facilities comparable to the best in the world," Vasudevan said.
"We are in the final stages of discussion with two major European companies and another global company. The deal is likely to be inked soon."
Another boost was the visit of a delegation headed by Kerala IT minister P.K. Kunjalikutty to the Dubai IT Festival that saw a lot of interest generated among Middle East companies. Vasudevan said "The discussions we had with these companies were basically of two types. While one section was interested in setting up offshore development centers, another section wanted to find a partner for their own developmental needs in IT.
"For both these activities, they seemed satisfied that Technopark is the right place to be. We are soon going to have a visit from some companies from the Middle East to our campus."
The opening of the first offshore back office operation center of Ernst and Young's Middle East branch at Technopark seems to have helped.
The software sector in Kerala also believes the state officials meeting with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in New Delhi this week would give them a valuable boost.
"The decision of Bill Gates to visit Kerala after 18 months in itself is a certificate for IT initiatives launched in the state," a top industry source said.
Source: IANS
2 billion this year as more companies have set up shop.
The 156 acre Technopark has 55 companies housed in an 800,000 square foot building space and employing close to 1,500 IT professionals as well as 500 other workers. About one-third of another 500,000 square feet of building space has already been booked.
Exports from the software park were worth 1.46 billion in the last calendar year and would cross 2 billion this year as more companies had begun operations, said Technopark chief executive officer, Rajiv Vasudevan.
"This is just the beginning of a bright future for Technopark because very soon we would have infrastructure facilities comparable to the best in the world," Vasudevan said.
"We are in the final stages of discussion with two major European companies and another global company. The deal is likely to be inked soon."
Another boost was the visit of a delegation headed by Kerala IT minister P.K. Kunjalikutty to the Dubai IT Festival that saw a lot of interest generated among Middle East companies. Vasudevan said "The discussions we had with these companies were basically of two types. While one section was interested in setting up offshore development centers, another section wanted to find a partner for their own developmental needs in IT.
"For both these activities, they seemed satisfied that Technopark is the right place to be. We are soon going to have a visit from some companies from the Middle East to our campus."
The opening of the first offshore back office operation center of Ernst and Young's Middle East branch at Technopark seems to have helped.
The software sector in Kerala also believes the state officials meeting with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in New Delhi this week would give them a valuable boost.
"The decision of Bill Gates to visit Kerala after 18 months in itself is a certificate for IT initiatives launched in the state," a top industry source said.
Source: IANS