TN to use IT and ITES as 'Missiles for prosperity'

Tamil Nadu intends to use Information Technology(IT) and ITES( IT-Enabled Services) as the guided missiles for ushering in a new era of rapid deployment and prosperity, emphasized Chief Minister J
Jayalalithaa.

She fired the first missile, in the form of the new IT policy for 2002, while inaugurating Connect 2002, the second International Exhibition and Conference on IT, Communication Technologies and Bioinformatics in Chennai Trade Center on September 19.

A second missile, in the words of the CM, is also there as the draft policy on ITES, put up at the state government's website (www.tn.gov.in) for public comments. Together these guided missiles, Jayalalitha hoped would bring prosperity to the state.

For, the state is eyeing a significant chunk of the $127 billion global market for business process outsourcing(BPO) which is expected to grow to $234 billion in 2005. The state is making steady progress in related fields.

The CM explained. CONNECT 2002, a symbol of the state's IT prowess, has made a giant leap from last year where it has recorded a growth from 150 to 500 percent. For the first event CONNECT 2001 there were 10,000 visitors, 300 Corporate participants and 60 exhibitors. Whereas the current event has attracted over 100 exhibitors, 500 Corporate participants and the number of visitors expected is a phenomenal 10,000 per day. 

Tamil Nadu in the coming days will try to utilize the domain expertise in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture and industry to position the State as the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) capital of the world. "We would position Tamil Nadu as the BPO of not just India but of the world for the State has potentials to claim to this enviable position. By moving to the Tier Two towns like Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelvelli and Salem they will be the luminous pearls in the necklace of BPO development in Tamil Nadu. Besides the strong pool of accounting professionals that Tamil Nadu has is turning it into an ideal destination for locating the BPO for the banking, financial services and insurance sectors," added the CM. The setting up of the back offices of the World Bank, ABN Amro Bank and Standard Chartered Bank gives added credence to the State.

Unveiling the state's new IT Policy,Jayalalithaa said that the Policy will usher in a new era of growth of IT industries and employment opportunities for the people of Tamil Nadu and transform it from an "In line to Online State".

The Government of Tamil Nadu will give additional focus to the fundamental research and development for technological progress. With regard to this the government has formed a Nano Technology Task Group for reaping the benefits of the emerging technology. She said, Tamil Nadu has achieved one more distinction in that the first ever global conference on Nano computing was held in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, during December 2001 which attracted a large number of researchers globally. 

T Kannan, Chairman, CII Southern Region in his inaugural session speech threw light on the manufacturing sector, which is handicapped by the high cost and the labor laws. He urged the Chief Minister to pioneer in evolving a Manufacturing Policy, which would address these areas. 

Cyber News Service

Tamil Nadu IT Policy 2002 announced

One of the major happening during the CONNECT 2002 was the release of the new IT Policy of Tamil Nadu by J
Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Releasing the the new IT Policy J
Jayalalitha, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said that it would transform Tamil Nadu from an "In line to Online State". 

The new IT policy of 2002 seeks to establish Tamil Nadu as the Destination of Choice for IT investments, to upgrade the quality of life of its citizens through e-Government and IT applications in Government, to empower people in the rural areas so as to bridge the Digital Divide, to develop Research and Development Initiatives and finally to promote the use of Tamil in Information Technology.

"The new IT Policy, I am sure, will be a beacon light to guide the State, including its Tier II cities
(Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli and Salem), forward and propel it to the number one position in IT exports. This will also position Tamil Nadu as a Destination of Choice globally, competing with Philippines, Ireland and other countries in the IT enabled services," said the Chief Minister. 

The draft IT policy was tabled in the Tamil Nadu IT Council, chaired by the Chief Minister on 22 August 2002. It was discussed and analyzed along with the Director of
IIT, Madras, and the Vice Chancellor of Anna University, representing Academia; the President of
NASSCOM, the Vice President of MAIT and the Chirman, CII, Tamil Nadu Council representing Industry; the Chief General Managers of
BSNL, VSNL and Director, STPI representing communication providers; and Ministers, officials and the Chief Minister representing the Government.