BANGALORE: In a bid to encourage the IT growth in the state, the West Bengal has taken new initiatives, the foremost being the setting up of India Design Center.

"The center will not only give impetus to the highend semiconductor sector, but also provide entire ecosystem for the VLSI industry in one integrated building," said Debesh Das, minister-in-charge, information technology, Government of West Bengal.

Speaking during the BangaloreIT.in, minister said that West Bengal's growth as IT destination is gaining momentum with software export revenue touching Rs 3,600 crores.

"Already 500 IT companies have set up their base employing over 55,000 people. The State has registered a growth of 46 percent as against the national average of 32 percent. The State also plans to contribute 15 percent share of India's IT/ITeS exports by 2010," he added.

Major IT companies, such has Wipro, has bought 22 acres of land, while TCS has bought 40 acres of land, and Infosys is in the process of buying 100 acres of land. Companies like Tech Mahindra and ITC Infotech have also bought lands, he added.

Further, Das said that the State is also addressing the demand for land by developing new places as IT hubs. Salt Lake and New Town Rajghat have already been developed as IT hubs, while 332 acres of land in Jagdishpur is being developed as the third IT hub.

The Government has also set up Webel's finishing schools at Kolkata and Durgapur to meet the increasing demand for trained quality manpower.