Orissa to use K'taka as IT model city

BANGALORE: The visiting ICT Minister of Orissa, Surja Narayan Patro, has a lot of praise for Karnataka and its government. The minister, who believes 'Bangalore' as an ideal destination for the IT industry, is keen to follow the successful model of India's silicon valley in order to empower IT Industry in his home state.

Patro was a guest at the Bangalore IT.Com on its inaugural day. The minister said he was in Bangalore to garner the support of industry leaders for attracting investments into his state. Talking about the IT industry, he said Orissa registered software exports worth Rs 415-crore in the last fiscal and the state was expected to do much more better this year.

In Orissa, the state has been working hard to facelift the IT industry, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities. As part of the strategy, the government has already announced IT policy-2004, IT man power plan and its IT vision in order to make Orissa an ideal destination for investments.

The primary objectives of the policy are to promote IT in Orissa, adopt IT in government to increase productivity and play an enabler's role in order to encourage the IT industry. The government has been taking IT-friendly policies.

The minister is very optimistic about the future of IT in Orissa.