PUNE: In a move to generate more funds and increase IT penetration in remote areas, five profit-making STPIs are being privatized. They are Pune, Chennai, Noida, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Lakshminarayanan, joint secretary, ministry of Information Technology (MIT) informed the press about the privatization while speaking on `An IT Overview Vision for India' at the three-day Ice2001TechSummit@Pune.
The aim of the exercise is to generate more funds to establish new STPIs in areas where IT penetration is not high. Lakshminarayan said that a proposal has been placed before the Cabinet and the process is likely to start by the year-end. He expects the sale of the STPIs to private parties would generate Rs 500 crore.
"A new company will be formed where assets of these STPIs will be transferred and auction bids will be invited. Following this, the process of disinvestment will begin," he said.
Sikkim, Guwahati and Lucknow have been identified for new STPIs.
Commenting on the progress of Media Lab Asia, he said that a Malaysian government delegation is expected to visit India to discuss the possibilities of investing and conducting research in areas of interest.
Media Lab Asia is proposed to be a network of national as well as overseas projects, people and laboratories dedicated in bringing the benefits of the most advanced information technologies to the people. It is anticipated to be an ambitious Rs 5000 crore, 10-year plan for meeting the ground challenges in learning, health and enterprise.
Lakshminarayan said that they are looking for funds from interested countries for conducting research in relevant areas of interest. A similar delegation is expected from South Korea next month.
Lakshminarayan dismissed any potential threat from China in the IT sector. However, after visits from around 40 Chinese delegations, MIT is now adopting a cautious approach, he said. "They come here, see and replicate," he added explaining the reason why they are no longer encouraging such delegations to visit India. He also spoke about the possible merger of the IT ministry and the ministry of Information and Broadcasting. "The file is now with the Prime Minister," he said. The merger would see a lot of changes since a single ministry and a bureaucracy would handle things thereafter.
Eco-friendly IT process not only makes a good environment sense, but also a very good business sense. Join us in this initiative that protects nature and your business.
know more..
