Will Mamata woo Infosys, Wipro?

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee completes one-year term in office, she is eying to woo IT companies, particularly Infosys and Wipro.

Banerjee in yet another demand to the Centre has sought extension of the STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) incentive scheme, which was curtailed in 2011.

It may be recalled that TMC in its election manifesto had opposed SEZ. Infosys and Wipro, citing lack of SEZ status, had put embargo on fresh investments in the state.

West Bengal commerce and industry minister Partha Chatterjee had said that they were committed to help IT companies like Infosys. In consultation with the CM, he has written to the Union Commerce and industry Minister Anand Sharma for the STPI scheme extension.

It’s a better deal, Chatterjee said, than SEZ. “We have discussed the issue with the Centre and are expecting a positive response,” he was quoted as saying.

The scheme could be extended, before it gets ceased, believe industry pundits. Through this system, the companies enjoy certain tax benefits and rebates that are similar to SEZ.   

Speaking to CIOL, Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) taskforce chairman Ajai Chowdhry said it’s not feasible to extend the scheme to West Bengal alone. “It’s not simple to heed state demand as STPI is a countrywide rollout,” Chowdhry added.

Set up to promote software exports, STPI as an autonomous society under the ministry of communications and information technology, came into existence in 1991. It contributed Rs. 215,264 crore worth exports during 2010-11.