Interview with President, ITsAP

Mr V Rajanna is the President of the Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Industry Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITsAP). He is the Vice President and heads Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) operations in Hyderabad, which is the fourth largest centre for TCS globally. Rajanna is also the Global Head of Telecom Technology Business unit of TCS.

Rajanna was formally heading the TCS operations in Taiwan and also the first head of China for TCS. He was in US before that for 3 years. He says that the role and opportunities provided by TCS is wonderful and is highly enthusiastic to take up the objectives in his current role. As President of ITsAP, he has taken up several initiatives towards the development of industries in Andhra Pradesh.

Rajanna says that the contribution of IT to the growth and development of AP is significant. Almost 38% of the total exports comes from the IT industry, it has provided a 15% growth in the state, direct employment to 3L people and indirect employment to over 10L people. The success of any industry comes from Infrastructure, Talent and Business Ecosystem.
ITsAP has been instrumental in making IT as an essential source of development. AP produces 2,30,000 engineering graduates annually and the Government is now focusing on developing the tier 2 cities like Vizag, Warangal, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Thirupati.

In the recent Summit Advantage AP 2012, the CM released a report on why industries must invest in AP. The Summit invited 25-30 CXO of large companies across the country.

The plans for 2013 include a 10 point recommendation to the Government on how IT can grow to the next level.

1. Develop Tier 2 Cities: ITsAP suggests to follow the China model where the Government provides friendly policies and subsidies for the development of the tier 2 cities.
2. Develop Tier 2 cities for IT Growth: ITsAP suggests that the Government appoints an Officer with a clear mandate to develop IT extensively in the tier 2 cities.
3. Growth differentiators: The Government should take help from an advisory firm to project and focus on the growth differentiators.
4. International Connectivity: ITsAP suggests to have more airlines to encourage international connectivity.
5. SMB's: The SMB's play an instrumental role in growth and development and hence suggests to have an exclusive incubation facility dedicated for the SMB's.
6. Take initiatives to close the gaps between Industry and Academia.
7. Encourage, initiate and continue development activities with 25 top companies.
8. Growth of tier 2 cities.
9. Develop a separate IT-IR, a high tech city.
10. Branding: Brand and market Hyderabad as one of the top 3 must visit cities in the world.

ITsAP has played an instrumental role in developing a preferential policy for SMB's and start-ups. We have also organised a big event related to the SMB industry. ITsAP also encourages to provide space for the growth of IT infrastructure. One of the important initiatives of ITsAP includes the leadership program for men and women.

Some of the key initiatives for 2013 includes:
1. Advantage AP 2013
2. Leadership Development Program
3. Leadership Development for local CXO's
4. Development of tier 2 cities

Rajanna has over 20 years of industry experience and it is great to see the enthusiasm and initiatives he has for the growth of AP. His personal views are that AP has a good ecosystem with great infrastructure, talent and good companies. AP is indeed the right destination for growth and development, he says.