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Our Bureau

Kolkata , April 9

TWO new software technology parks will be commissioned in West Bengal by the first week of May. While one will be located in the industrial township of Durgapur, the other will be located at Kharagpur.

This was stated by Dr G.D. Gautama, Principal Secretary in the Department of Information Technology, Government of West Bengal, during an interface with the members of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce here.

Dr Gautama said software exports from West Bengal were growing at 80 per cent as against the national average of 36 per cent. The growth rate in the State's IT sector was sustainable with IT majors such as Wipro ramping up operations even as companies such as Satyam have firmed up plans to set up operations here.

Among others, the California-headquartered Atlas Medical has also decided to set up its India development centre in Kolkata.

Dr Gautama said the availability of a talent pool, comparatively low operational costs and low attrition rates have contributed to Kolkata's attractiveness as a destination for IT companies in general and ITES (IT-enabled services) companies in particular.

With a view to making the right kind of manpower available to IT and ITES companies, the State Government has set up a 32-member academic council that will advise the State Government on courses, curricula, etc.

With a view to improving connectivity, the State Government has proposed that a submarine cable landing station be set up at Haldia. The Centre is expected to take a decision in the matter in the months ahead.

According to Dr Gautama, software exports from West Bengal stood at Rs 1,200 crore in 2002-03. This figure is expected to surpass Rs 10,000 crore within the next five years. "The targets are achievable but the real challenge would be to manage the manpower," he said.

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