Quick decision facilitates faster investment plans: YSR

Gitex India 2006 inaugurated

Claiming yet another milestone in governance, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said his government in the last one-and-a-half years could reduce the duration of decision-making by at least ten times to facilitate faster investment plans by companies as compared to the previous period when the Telugu Desam party, led by N Chandrababu Naidu, was in power.

Inaugurating the Gitex India 2006, the three-day annual ICT mega event, here at the Hitex International Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, Reddy reiterated the government's support for the faster inflow of investments in the IT sector and stressed the need for imparting quality training to IT professionals.

Acknowledging the overwhelming presence of students in the auditorium, the chief minister said, "The training and quality of students have to improve so that the synergy between academia and the industry yields fruits." He also called for greater effort in achieving proficiency in English.

"Interacting with me a while ago, Ramalinga Raju said the time consumed in decision-making could be utilised purposefully in attracting investments. I will say that in the last one-and-a-half years, we brought the time of decision-making by at least ten times,"Reddy said.

"Ours is an open government. We will tell what we do and we will do what we tell. After all, the companies require the support of government in terms of land, infrastructure and other things. We tell what we can do for them and also let them know very quickly of our inability, if any, in meeting any of their request," he said.

Indicating the government's priority and focus on improving the quality of human resources, the chief minister said the companies in near future would come to the state in search of Andhra students.

Complimenting IBM and Satyam Computer Services for their support to the training programme through Jawahar Knowledge Centres (JKCs) to engineering students in IT and other softskills, the chief minister said JKCs would be started in 20 more engineering colleges this year in addition to the existing 30 centres.

He said that normal degree colleges would also be included in the JKC training programme in coming days.

Stating that over eight software SEZs would come up in the state soon, the chief minister also invited hardware companies to set up units in the proposed Hardware Park near Hyderabad.

Besides honouring IT and ITeS companies for their best performance under various categories in the year 2004-05, including the top exporters in the field, the chief minister handed over the land allotment documents to the representatives of 15 IT companies on the occasion.

While Intelli Group Asia Private Limited and Infinite Computer Solutions were newly added to the list of companies that were being given land in the Popalguda software SEZ near Hyderabad, Vasant Scribes Limited and ACN Infotec Private Limited were added to the list of land allottees in the Vizag IT park.