The Future is Here

• Staff Reporter

 

Information technology has been a major sector strengthening the economic growth of the state since the Ninth Five Year Plan. Even as our country started thinking about ITbased job opportunities, Kerala implemented it. Kerala stepped into the world of information technology and digitalisation in the 1990s. Technopark, envisioned by the then Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar and the Industries Minister K. R. Gowriamma in 1990, is the first IT industrial park in India. In 1998, the IT policy was announced and a department was formed exclusively for IT in the state, and then in 1999, the State IT Mission was formed. Kerala has become a major IT hub in the country thanks to the developmental activities of the government and the excellent service quality of IT parks. Substantial progress has been attained in the infrastructural development of IT sector. In addition to the major IT parks, the government has envisioned an IT corridor connecting the entire state of Kerala. The state’s first IT corridor came into existence on 764.19 acres of land in Thiruvananthapuram. With the completion of four IT corridors – Kazhakoottam-Kollam, Cherthala-Ernakulam, Ernakulam-Koratty, and Kozhikode-Kannur – IT sector is all set for revolutionary changes. Kerala is becoming the favourite destination for global IT companies. The availability of skilled workers, excellent research facilities and quality, high standard of living, excellence in health and education sectors, and low operating costs are the factors that attract companies to Kerala. In 2016, exports through Kerala’s government IT parks were Rs 9,753 crore. Today, it is over Rs 21,000 crore. Kerala is also becoming a future hub for technologies including Generative AI that are needed by the new generation. The IT sector in Kerala is growing day by day, centered around major IT parks such as Technopark, Infopark and Cyberpark

Breaking New Ground

The country’s first IT park, Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, is growing year by year. New companies and new construction activities have fuelled the development of Technopark. In the last nine years, the number of companies has increased by 32.43%. It has increased from 370 to 490. Technopark has become an IT hub with an area of 8.5 million sq ft to 12.72 million sq ft. Export earnings have increased from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 13,255 crore, i.e., a growth of 165.10%. There has also been a 44.62% increase in direct employment generation. The number of employees has increased from 51,860 to 75,000 in five phases. Technopark has achieved an A+/Stable rating from the leading rating agency Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL). It was first awarded a CRISIL A+/ Stable rating in 2021. It has since maintained this rating for four consecutive years. The Quad Project, TCS IT/ITES Campus, and Downtown Thiruvananthapuram Project are some of the flagship projects under construction on the campus. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Brigade Group to set up a World Trade Centre in Technopark Phase 1. The second World Trade Centre in Kerala is being planned with an area of 1 million square feet. In the next three years, it is expected to add 4.284 million square feet of built-up space. 30,000 new jobs will also be created. Armada, one of the leading AI and edge computing companies in the US, has opened its first office in India at Technopark. Armada is a company that collaborates with large companies including Starlink. The entry of such a company is an example of Kerala’s growth as a major power in the IT industry.

Global Village of IT

Infopark is playing a crucial role in the country’s IT development. In the financial year 2016-17, the number of companies in Infopark was 328. Today, it has grown to 582. IT export revenue was Rs 3,000 crore. It has increased to Rs 11,417 crore at a record pace. Area of operations expanded from 70 lakh sq ft to 92.6 lakh sq ft. The number of employees has increased from 32800 to 72000. Global IT giants have set shop in Infopark. Leading global IT companies like IBM Software, HCL, MSC, Strada, TNP, BT Pierian, Adesso have started operations here. The second campus of Thiruvananthapurambased IBS Software has been established in Kochi Infopark. IBS has made an investment of Rs. 300 crore in Kerala. The growth of IBS in the global IT industry is a clear testament to the business-friendly environment in Kerala.

Decentralisation of IT

The government is trying to spread the IT ecosystem to all parts of Kerala without concentrating it in a particular place. Apart from Kochi, Infopark has campuses in Koratty and Cherthala. The role of the Kerala government is no small one in ensuring that Techgentsia, operating in Cherthala Infopark, has established a position at the international level. As the IT sector continues to advance, the IT company that grew out of Kerala has gained a foothold across India, thanks to the support given to the company by the state government.

Heralding Progress

Kozhikode Cyber Park, which has given wings to Malabar’s IT dreams, has endless possibilities ahead. In the last 8 years, the number of companies has grown from four to 83. A total of 2200 IT professionals are employed here, and the export revenue has increased from Rs. 2.97 crore to Rs. 121 crore. Construction work on a new building with an area of four lakh square feet is also underway.