formation technology and IT-enabled services (ITeS) companies in the southern region reported a 15 per cent increase in operating income at about Rs 60,000 crore in 2008-09, as compared with the previous year, according to Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - southern region quarterly industry and economic update for IT and ITeS industry.
Of the 230-odd listed IT and ITeS companies in India, over 44 per cent have registered offices in the southern region. The number of software units in Karnataka increased 24 per cent to 1,885 units in 2006-07 from 1,520 in 2004-05, it pointed out.
In Tamil Nadu, the number of companies increased to 1,127 in 2007-08 from 855 in 2001-02, an increase of 32 per cent.
On the exports front, Tamil Nadu showed a 29 per cent growth in rupee terms at Rs 36,680 crore or $7.9 billion in 2008-09, compared with Rs 28,430 crore or $6 billion in 2007-08.
Andhra Pradesh registered an export turnover of Rs 32,500 crore or $7 billion in 2008-09, a growth of 24.5 per cent in rupee terms over the previous year’s Rs 26,120 crore or $5.7 billion. Karnataka, however, registered an increase of only 15 per cent in exports at Rs 67,500 crore or $14.7 billion in 2008-09, compared with Rs 58,500 crore or $ 12.7 billion during the previous year, due to the recession.
According to S Gopalakrishnan, deputy chairman, CII – southern region and CEO and managing director, Infosys Technologies Ltd, domestic IT companies are increasing the focus on BRIC and Apac countries. “The Indian domestic market would continue to grow faster than global markets fuelled by sustained GDP growth, increased public sector spending and adoption of IT. It is expected that the ‘outsourceable’ market including BPO would expand from the current $500 billion to about $1.6 trillion by 2020,” he said.
