MNC considering base in Mangalore

B V Naidu, STPI Bangalore's director said that a multinational firm was seriously considering setting up a second base in the state, in Mangalore. The region, including Manipal will "become another hub of IT activity along with Mysore", Naidu told reporters.

"I can't name the MNC as they will announce it themselves, but it is a firm that has a strong base in Bangalore," he said.

"We have been successful in getting two large firms to anchor the sector's growth "" Infosys in Mysore with their global training centre and exports operations, and MphasiS with its BPO unit in Mangalore."

To boost growth in the Mangalore/Manipal region, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board had sent out "initial notifications to acquire 500 acres of land," Javed Akhtar, a director at the state's department of IT said.

The land will be used to build a special economic zone exclusively for IT firms, along the lines of the Mahindra SEZ in Chennai, he said.

Mysore and Mangalore exported some Rs 860 crore worth of IT services in FY05.

"This is impressive if you compare it with other tier-2 cities in the country." Between the two cities, there are some 8,000 people employed in the IT sector, he said.