The Hindu Business Line : Technopark hires PwC to draw up master plan

On the anvil
Technopark to take the PPP route for developing Phase III of the park, Technocity
The company is looking to bring in an investor for expansion of Infopark-Kochi
New co for developing IT infrastructure in the State; will tie up with private players

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 6 Technopark Thiruvananthapuram has commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to draw up a master plan for establishing IT infrastructure in Kerala.

Mr N. Radhakrishnan Nair, CEO, Technopark, said PwC’s report will cover the development of Phase III of the Technopark, development of the proposed Technocity near Thiruvananthapuram and establishment of IT parks in other districts of Kerala. The company is expected to submit its report in about six months.

PPP model

Meanwhile, Technopark is looking for partners for projects such as development of Phase III of the Technopark, establishment of the Technocity and IT parks in districts. All these projects are expected to be developed in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, he said.

The organisation is also keen to bring in an investor for the expansion of Infopark-Kochi, said Mr Nair, who is also the CEO of Infopark. Also on the cards is an IT park in Kozhikode.

New company

The State Government also plans to set up a new company to develop IT infrastructure in Kerala. The government will have a majority stake in this venture, which will be the nodal company for PPP projects related to IT infrastructure development, Mr Nair said.

This company will enter into joint ventures with private players for developing IT infrastructure in the State.

Technopark will soon have a ‘smart business centre’ that provides new companies with office infrastructure. This facility is intended to meet the needs of companies that are starting operations in Kerala and will help companies test the Kerala market, Mr Nair said.

Twelve of the possible 16 units in this facility have already been booked, mostly by companies from the US and West Asia.

Finishing school

By the end of this year, Technopark will have a finishing school to provide both technical and non-technical training to young college graduates, particularly engineering graduates.

This facility will help enhance the employability of young people in Kerala, Mr Nair said. The Government plans to replicate this concept in other parts of the State.

Companies in Technopark currently employ over 16,000 people and this figure is expected to touch 40,000 in about two years, he stated. By 2012, it is expected to have over 2,00,000 employees, Mr Nair added.

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