AP government unveils ICT policy '02-05

HYDERABAD: In keeping with its trend of fostering growth in the IT sector,

the department of Information Technology and Communications, Government of

Andhra Pradesh has announced the launch of an industry friendly ICT Policy

2002-2005. The policy has been formulated keeping in mind the egovernance vision

of the state leveraging information technology to attain a position of

leadership and excellence and also to transform itself into an knowledge

society.






The policy augments the sound functioning of the ICT sector to give it a new
direction. "With the help of the new policy we are going to promote the IT

hardware and software industries that also includes IT services, ITES and IT

infrastructure industries. The government also extends the policy to

telecommunication companies, which include basic telecom service providers, VSAT,

Cellular companies and telecom infrastructure companies," said, AP CM N

Chandrababu Naidu.






The policy gives a new direction to the ICT sector besides extending the earlier
incentives of the 1999 ICT policy. It provides a thrust in areas such as —preference

to AP units for egovernance projects, subsidy for SME’s for participation in

international events and promoting quality certification.






Under the new policy the government is giving concessional power tariff under
this scheme. IT units will be eligible for a 25 per cent rebate in power for a

period of three years from the date of commencement of commercial operations.






In addition to that the government is giving a special provision for mega IT
projects — with an investment of Rs 50 crore and above. The government has

also established an IT-enabled single window system for providing smooth

interface between industrial and business units and the regulatory agencies of

the government.