Software exports from Punjab, Haryana up

Software exports from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are expected to touch Rs 580-590 crore in 2006-07 as compared to Rs 423 crore during 2005-06, thus it is expected to witness a growth rate of 37-40 per cent.

As the STPI(Software Technology Park of India) is yet to recieve the complete data of exports from the companies for Februry & March 2007, so exact status of exports could not be ascertained, but STPI director confirmed Business Standard that it will be about Rs. 580-590 crore.

Speaking to Business Standard, STPI, Director, Sanjay Tyagi said, " We hope to touch Rs. 580-590 crore in last financial year 2006-07, thus witnessing a growth rate of 37-40 per cent." He further added that we would likley to maintain our growth rate of 40 per cent in near future also.

Till date, the data received by the department reveals that software exports was to the tune of Rs. 453 crore upto february 2007( some of the companies are yet to submit their export figures). So, once all the export figures is compiled, the department is hopeful that it would touch Rs. 495 crore upto february 28, 2007 and further Rs. 580-590 crore in 2006-07.

The data revealed that the software export from Chandigarh was Rs. 238 crore upto February 2007, wheares in fiscal year 2005-06 it was Rs. 215 crore.

So far Punjab, is concerned it was to the tune of Rs. 323 crore in 2005-06 but upto February 2007 it was Rs. 215 crore.

"The decline in exports from Punjab is due to shifting of Infosys operation from Punjab to Chandigarh, " said one of the official in oftware technology park. So, it clearly indicates that Punjab Government's efforts to attract IT bigwigs seem to have paid not enough dividends if its software exports are any indication.

Infosys leads the chart with total exports worth Rs. 157.1 crore followed by Quark (Rs. 76.86 crore) and Dell (Rs. 92.55 crore) respectively.

Also, last financial year, 28 more companies registered with STPI in the region. Currently, 271 companies are registered with software technology park from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana(excluding NCR region), wheras in 2005-06 there were 243 companies.

Among the prominent firms who had set up their base are Tech Mahindra, KMG Infotech, Visionaire Technology, Outline Systems, Packet Video, Ind Sigma Infotech, QA Infotech etc.