The Hindu Business Line : Exports from STPI-H cross $1-billion mark

THE Software Technology Parks of India-Hyderabad (STPI-H) has registered a 37 per cent growth in overall exports from the software services and ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) sectors, achieving total exports of Rs 5,025 crore during 2003-2004, up from Rs 3,668 crore the previous fiscal.

For the first time, exports from STPI-H crossed the $1-billion mark.

The growth of 37 per cent was higher compared to the national average of 29 per cent and a modest export growth of 26 per cent the previous fiscal. Significant contribution was from the ITES segment.

Addressing a press conference along with the Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (HYSEA) and the Principal Secretary, IT &C, Andhra Pradesh, Dr J.C. Mohanty, the Director STPI-H, Mr M. Vijay Kumar, said: "this was significant achievement despite the fact that the country was witness to some issues relating to outsourcing concerns. During the year we expect to grow by 40-45 per cent to touch the Rs 7,000 crore mark."

The STPI-H also saw about 460 firms being delisted during the year.

While exports to the US and Canada were estimated at 63.15 per cent, Europe accounted for 22.97 per cent, East & West Asia (3.91 per cent), Netherlands (4.77 per cent), Japan (4.25 per cent), and Australia (0.50 per cent).

The ITES segment accounted for about 46.70 per cent of the total exports, followed by application software (10.50 per cent), system software (7.30 per cent), e-commerce and Web application (7.50 per cent), followed by other areas.

Last year, 42 foreign companies and 77 Indian firms established facilities with a total investment of Rs 684 crore.

The overall manpower increased to 85,945 from 71,445 including 9,025 non-technical staff by March 31, 2004.

Other than Hyderabad, about 40 units have come up in other parts of the State. HSBC would commission its major centre in Visakhapatnam shortly, Mr Kumar said.

Dr Mohanty said the State was committed to supporting the software sector and would provide all help for companies planning to set up facilities.

Mr Mallikarjuna Rao of HYSEA said: "the IT sector had very little investment from the State Government over the years and this was reflected from the fact that barely Rs 4 crore was spent on some areas and Rs 70 crore as a part of total equity in the Hitec City project with L&T.

In fact, software units continue to make STPI-Hyderabad the third largest in terms of their contribution to the sector."

Apart from software and ITES units, the Electronic Hardware Technology Park units accounted for total exports of Rs 35 crore led by Wipro ePeripherals and TeamAsia.

While strengthening the infrastructure and supporting new units to establish their facilities, STPI and the State Government are in the process of establishing Rs 100 crore Bio-IT Park near Visakhapatnam to support bioinformatics sector.

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