Andhra Pradesh to host major IT event in March

HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh will organize a two-day IT conference and exhibition March 1 and 2 in Hyderabad to project itself as the most preferred IT destination.

IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah Thursday announced the event \’Advantage AP-

annual IT summit 2011\’, the first of its kind event by the state

government, to promote brand Andhra Pradesh.

To be organized jointly by Information Technology and Communications

Department, Governmrnt of India in association with IT and ITES Industry

Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITsAP) and Software Technology Park of India

(STPI), Hyderabad, the annual event will focus on Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs) and promote tier-II cities.

The conference will provide a forum for IT and ITES companies, IT

infrastructure developers, academic institutions, governments and end

customers of various industries to collaborate and leverage the enabling

environment that Andhra Pradesh has to offer.

The minister said the government was keen to make Andhra Pradesh the number

one in IT exports in the country. It presently occupies fourth position.

The participants in the event will get firsthand experience of why the state

has quickly become the most preferred destination for the IT and ITES

industry.

L. Suresh, president, ITsAP, said the 3,200 sq mt exhibition space at the

event will enable participating companies to showcase the products

developed in the state. Awards will be presented to companies in

recognition of their excellent performance.

The seminars will deliberate on startup eco-system, new technologies,

business models and innovation.

Ratna Prabha, principal secretary, IT, pointed out that Andhra Pradesh,

which started its IT journey 10 to 15 years after its competitors like

Karnataka, has been growing consistently above the national average.

During 2009-10, the IT exports from the state were Rs.33,482 crore,

contributing 15 percent to the country\’s overall IT exports. It hopes to

register a minimum of Rs.36,000 crore exports during the current financial

year.

\”This time last year the IT exports were Rs.18,000 crore and this year we

have already crossed Rs.25,000 crore. We hope to do a minimum of Rs.36,000

crore exports this year as the last quarter also yields goods results,\” she

said.

Claiming that the sector was witnessing silent growth despite all the

speculations and apprehensions, the official pointed out that during 2010,

42 lakh sft of IT space was sold or leased against 87 lakh sft taken during

last three to four years.

As part of its efforts to develop tier-II cities, the government has

decided to set up IT towers in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Warangal.