West Bengal will announce its IT policy in January, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Thursday. The policy announcement will come at the annual investors’ meet to be held on January 16 and 17.

The State government has been working on a comprehensive IT policy to woo investments in the sector. Over the last six years, it has announced piecemeal policies relating to hardware and software companies, start-ups, ITeS, and for incentivising investments.

Sops for investors

“Our comprehensive IT policy will be announced in January,” the Chief Minister said at the inauguration of Infocom 2017, an annual IT conclave in the city.

Banerjee promised faster clearances, minimum red-tape, property tax waivers, reduced rentals and tax breaks and, more importantly, land availability.

According to her, there was enough land available in the State for IT companies to set up shop.

“At least 2.6 lakh jobs can be created through IT and we have the space for companies to come and set up shop here,” she said.

IT expansion

IT majors such as TCS, Cognizant, ITC Infotech have expressed willingness to expand operations in the State. She alluded to TCS hiring around 20,000 employees for its Rajarhat (on the north-eastern fringes of Kolkata) campus.

Cognizant is expanding operations by adding 15,000 more to its workforce here, the Chief Minister claimed.

For the State, focus areas of investments include companies working on fin-tech, cyber security and Blockchain technologies.

Setting up of a centre of excellence for imparting training in these areas is under consideration.

A 10-acre plot has also been identified for setting up a fin-tech hub.

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