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TCS awaits Centre's nod on SEZ

February 01, 2006 06:02 IST
Tata Consultancy Services is awaiting the Centre's nod on Special Economic Zone for developing 'Garima Park' at Infocity, Gandhinagar in a bid to spread its activities to overseas markets.

Talking about the operations, S Ramadorai, TCS CEO & MD said that initially TCS will focus more on government projects and utility sector clients as well as on ERP projects.

"It depends on the approval of SEZ. Once that is done we will set more focus on overseas project," said Ramadorai, who was here to attend foundation stone laying ceremony of TCS campus along with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

He denied to divulge the amount to be invested in the Gandhinagar facility of TCS. However, according to reliable sources the amount is estimated to be Rs 350 crore. During the event, Ramadorai announced that TCS will set up its Gandhinagar facility within 18 months.

"We will develop the centre in three phases. The first phase of global software development centre is expected to house 2,000 seats in 20 acres of the total 35 acres of the acquired land within 18 months," he said.

The second phase will be initiated if further required which can be extended to the total seating capacity of 5,000, he further said.

He said there is a shortfall of approximately 5,000 employees in the sector.

"Educational institutes are producing large number of engineers every year but they prove unsuitable owing to lack of industrial experience. The time period taken for transforming youths into experienced lots is bit long and this gap is creating a shortfall," explained Ramadorai while adding that TCS recruits 15,000 to 16,000 personnel every year.

In his speech, chief minister Narendra Modi claimed that the government of Gujarat will put in efforts to convert the premises of TCS into SEZ.

"We already have around 11 SEZs including one for electronics and hardware devices. In case of TCS, it will be an SEZ for software," said Modi while adding that this move of TCS will be a breakthrough in Gujarat.

Presently, TCS is having a strength of 480 employees in Gujarat.

"With this TCS will cater to the needs of the various projects by the state government and also to some projects of US and Australian companies," informed Ramadorai.

According to NASSCOM and McKenzie, it is projected that Indian IT sector will need around nine million employees and currently it has only 3.2 million, he informed.

"As Gujarat is creating its brand in tourism and urban development, Garima Park will help in enhancing the state's presence in IT industry," said Ramadorai while stating that the state's economy is growing at 15 per cent.

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