Kerala plans to set up IT parks in all districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: The government of Kerala, as part of its IT expansion plan, has kicked off efforts to set up IT parks in every district of Kerala.

As an initial step towards this goal, the state government today handed over the land for setting up an IT park in Kollam to Ajaykumar, Secretary, IT, in the presence of the District Collector A Shahjahan and officials of Technopark and Revenue Department in Kollam.

The official launch of the development activities of Kollam Technopark will be done by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on February 10 at Kundara.

The 40-acre campus will have an investment of over Rs 800 crore and will provide direct employment opportunities for 20,000 IT/ITeS professionals.

This is the first district level IT Park that is being launched by the Kerala government as part of the new IT Policy.

Speaking at the function after receiving the land for setting up Technopark Kollam, Minister for Education M A Baby said, “The Technopark at Thiruvananthapuram, for which the foundation stone was laid by the late E K Nayanar, has become a symbol of pride for the State and people of Kerala and the government.”

Today, as many as 150 nationally and internationally reputed companies operate out of the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark.

“The Thiruvananthapuram Technopark is our inspiration to set up similar parks in every district and the dream is coming to realization with this ceremony,” said Ajaykumar.

“Kollam in its own right is a developed district with the growing cashew industry, excellent educational institutions and now with the setting up of Technopark, we hope to see Kollam flourish and develop giving as a great IT hub providing better employment and a quality life to all professionals who choose to work from Kollam in future and make this place their home.”