Telangana on Monday unveiled its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy and four other subsidiary policies aimed at transforming the state into the most preferred destination for IT companies and doubling current IT exports in five years.
Aimed at making Hyderabad the top most IT destination in the country, the government has set a target of doubling the current IT exports of Rs.68,232 crore.
It also aims to double the current employment of four lakh and establish three tier-II cities as IT hubs in five years
The state also launched four sector-specific policies - on rural technology centres, innovation, electronics and gaming & animation.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled the policies in the presence of a galaxy of luminaries from IT sector including Infosys chairman emeritus N.R. Narayana Murthy.
The ICT policy framework says it is aimed at making Telangana a role model for smart governance in the delivery of citizen services and to position the state a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
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The electronics policy aims to attract $3 billion investment in the sector, generate employment for 1.5 lakh professionals in five years and enhance production value from $1 billion to $7.5 billion.
Two new electronic manufacturing clusters will be developed in around 900 acres.
Meanwhile, the state looks to build 6 lakh square feet GAME city facility for stakeholders of animation, gaming, multimedia and entertainment sector
Under the innovation policy, Telangana will set up second phase of T-Hub in 3 lakh square feet housing 900 start-ups. This is expected to facilitate growth of 5,000 start-ups.
The state last year launched T-Hub, a 70,000 square feet facility entirely dedicated to entrepreneurship.
Under the digital Telangana initiative, optical fibre cable will be laid to each household in the state and ensure one digitally literate person in every household.
The state announced plans to do develop one rural tech centre in each of the 10 districts, employing 2,500 people.
Hyderabad registered 15.7 percent IT growth rate in 2014-15, higher than national average of 13 percent. With 11 percent contribution to national IT exports, Hyderabad ranks second.
IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao said they aim to make the city number one by focussing on new technologies like data analytics, gaming, animation and cyber security and by leveraging its inherent strengths of large talent pool and best infrastructure.
Inviting IT companies to invest in Telangana, the chief minister promised hassle free and corruption free clearances in time-bound manner.
Narayana Murthy advised state to benchmark itself with the best in the world like Silicon Valley, Beijing and Tokyo as "this will propel you far beyond the Indian cities".
He said the state should approach to the development of the sector with an open mind, use data and facts, should be fair and execute the plans with excellence.
NASSCOM chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy said with 17 percent growth, the state could achieve the target of Rs.1 lakh crore exports in less than 24 months.
He announced Rs.10 crore on behalf of his company Cyient for digital Telangana. Stating that Cyient has opened a facility in Warangal, he urged IT companies having presence in Hyderabad to move to tier-II cities in the state.