InfoPark - Updates & Discussions

[DileepKS]

You didn't get it.

CEO Technopark says : "Our aim is now to get the two other major IT giants, namely IBM and Microsoft to Kerala which will help the state to emerge as the leading IT destination in the country"

Reachmeprop Infers: "Looks like microsoft is evaluating kerala"

CEO/Techpark 'aiming' doesn't imply those companies are 'evaluating'. Hence the comment.

[reachmeprop]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

Oh, I got something infinitely better. I don't think Ash even cooks for Abhi

Same goes for business too. There are less known companies that rake in the moolah than the big names.

Cooking may be a differentiator/value add in home office.
But just having international brands like oracle,ibm,microsoft in the resume instantly puts your candidature in a different league worth evaluating by any company.

[induzcreed]

I don't think it will be thaaaat bad, if IBM choose Kochi as their next destination how do you think?

[DileepKS]

I Would be one of the happiest people around!!

[induzcreed]

we will...we will rock you

[manukarukail]

Originally Posted by induzcreed

I don't think it will be thaaaat bad, if IBM choose Kochi as their next destination how do you think?

Few months back I attended an IBM interview. After the interview I asked him whether they have any plan to come to Kochi and the interviewer replied that Kochi is one of their future destinations.

[DileepKS]

The SEZ performance report is out. http://www.sezindia.nic.in/writeread...ts_31.3.11.pdf

IT Exports numbers show:

Infopark SEZ: 533.526 Crores, a growth of 67.8%
CSEZ: 244 Crores, a growth of 23%
Technopark SEZ: 234.1 Crores, a growth of 825%

Need to get the STPI numbers to get the total IT Exports.

[mohammedirshad06]

The southern Indian state of Kerala could well become an IT hub as the advantages enjoyed by Bengaluru, the country's ‘Silicon Valley', start to wear thin.

"The congestion in India's leading IT hubs has presented Kerala with the unique opportunity to market itself as an alternative investment destination for IT and IT-enabled services companies," said Gigo Joseph, CEO of Infopark Kochi. Moreover, it can benefit from IT companies starting to prefer the lower operating expenses of Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations for their bases.

A study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India suggested Bengaluru's credentials were on the decline for a number of reasons, most of all due to crumbling infrastructure. It added that 55 per cent of the IT companies located there preferred to shift operations to alternative sites.

By 2015, Kerala is expected to have 200,000 direct job opportunities in IT and related industries, with Infopark expected to create more than 100,000 jobs.

http://gulfnews.com/business/technol...alley-1.826952

[Malayaali]

State can be an IT hub: Infopark CEO

Dubai: Kerala can well become an IT hub as the advantages enjoyed by Bangalore, India's ‘Silicon Valley,' start to wear thin, said Gigo Joseph, CEO of Infopark Kochi, here recently.

Mr. Joseph said congestion in India's leading IT hubs had presented Kerala with an opportunity to market itself as an alternative investment destination for IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) companies.

“Moreover, IT companies now prefer to set up base in Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations because of their lower operating expenses,” Mr. Joseph said.

A study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India suggested that Bangalore's credentials were on the decline for a number of reasons, most of all, infrastructure. It added that 55 percent of the IT companies located there preferred to shift operations to other sites. By 2015, Kerala is expected to have 2,00,000 direct job opportunities in IT and related industries. — PTI

The Hindu

[Malayaali]

Infopark set for second phase of development

KOCHI: A meeting of the board of directors of Infopark held on Monday approved the proposed second phase development spread over about 160 acres in Kunnathunadu and Puthencruz villages.

With the approval of the board, Infopark can launch land development work on the site without delay. According to sources, the launch of preliminary works can be expected in a couple of weeks.

T. Balakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary holding charge of Information Technology, Industries, and Commerce, chaired the meeting. Alkesh Sharma, managing director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation; S. Ramnath, managing director of Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation; and Gigo Joseph, Infopark chief executive officer; was also present.

A Kochi-based construction company has been entrusted with land development works, the first of which will be the development works for an IT building proposed on eight acres.

Out of the 160 acres identified for the second phase expansion, acquisition of about 130 acres had been completed with the rest of the land entangled in legal issues.

The Board of Approvals (BoA) of the Union Ministry of Commerce had already granted Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status to about 31 acres of the project area.

The approval would enable Infopark to set up a sector-specific IT and IT-Enabled Services SEZ as part of its phase two expansion. When executed fully, the second phase will generate about 80,000 jobs.

The idea is to complete the expansion in three phases. A BPO complex, software development block and a convention centre would be set up initially. The BPO complex with a built-up space of 4 lakh sq.ft will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore.

The total investment for the phase two expansion had been estimated to be in the range of Rs.2,500 crore, of which Infopark would invest about Rs.475 crore in the next three years. Apart from the Rs.200 crore to be invested on the BPO complex, Rs.200 crore and Rs.75 crore would be invested in basic infrastructure and core infrastructure.

When completed, the second phase would provide a built-up space of 8 million sq.ft. This would take the total built-up space provided by Infopark to about 15 million sq.ft, taking into account the combined space at the IT parks at Koratty, Cherthala, and Ambalapuzha as well.

The Hindu

Its all happening right here in Kochi!
Metro, Smart City, Infopark, Road projects!!!

[mohammedirshad06]

With attacks on working women on the rise, here comes a software to their rescue. Kochi based MindHelix Technologies today launched SENTINEL – which they claim to be the world’s first smart-phone application for improving women’s security.



The free application can send instant alerts in case of danger. A forced power-off of the phone or an improper exit of application will trigger an alert to be sent. Prolonged signal loss will also cause a 'fail safe' alert SMS and email to be sent from the company’s server.


Sentinel can send email and SMS alerts to multiple pre-configured numbers. The alerts consist of the last known location, direction of travel and details like mode of transport and vehicle number that the traveler can enter. The application runs on smart phones with Android, Blackberry, Symbian, iPhone and Java operating systems.

The application was created with urban women in mind, and it depends on the availability of continuous cellular connectivity (within cities). With security being a major concern and attacks on citizens being more common than ever Sentinel hopes to provide an extra blanket of security enabling quick alerts while facing threats.


“We want to add a direct emailing or texting to nearest police station as soon as possible. We hope to get their consent in receiving and acting on such information,” said Christin Emmanuel George, Co-Founder & CEO MindHelix Technologies LLP.

According to a survey by Assocham Social Development Foundation more than 53 per cent of women in India feel insecure at work places, especially at night. Crimes against women are on a rapid increase in the mega cities of India compared to the national crime record. These records highlight the deteriorating state of women’s safety. In this situation, applications like these could provide much needed security for women.

The application can be downloaded from http://sentinel.mindhelix.com/

MindHelix Technologies LLP is a startup company formed in December 2010 with the aim of incorporating multi-faceted technologies under one roof. The company focuses on Mobile Application development and has a section for the development of rich internet applications and desktop software. MindHelix Technologies is the startup company behind the acclaimed TukTuk Meter Auto rickshaw fare calculator.

http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/3373

[DileepKS]

That is a great product! Kudos to MindHelix!

[mohammedirshad06]

A report on developmental plans of Infopark and Smartcity

[mohammedirshad06]

Designated zones to be green regions

No restriction on investors as in SEZs
-----------------------------------------

Information Technology Investment Regions (ITIRs) have been mooted for the promotion of industry with local involvement in the State.

According to a proposal being considered by the government, two ITIRs would be set up in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi in the first phase and after reviewing the success, it would be emulated in other potential areas in due course.

In Kochi, it has been proposed to develop Kakkanad and Thrikkakara villages where the Info Park, Export Park, Special Economic Zones, Hi-Tech Park, and the proposed Cyber City and Smart City are situated.

Already Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments have announced the formation of such regions. The designated zones will be green regions, encouraging environment-friendly business initiatives.

Andhra Pradesh has gone a bit ahead and announced that the region would be developed over an extent of 50,000 acres in Hyderabad. The project, with an investment potential of Rs.2.19 lakh crore, is expected to generate direct employment for 15 lakh persons and indirect job opportunities to 53 lakh people. The developed region is projected to yield direct revenue of Rs.3.1 lakh crore from software exports.

The ITIRs in the State will not place any restriction on investors as in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which had laid regimented investment norms. World-class infrastructure facilities like uninterrupted power supply, transportation, drinking water, sewerage, air, road, and sea connectivity would be provided in the regions to make them investor-friendly destinations for developing IT as well as IT-enabled services.

Development of the region is expected to leverage Central funds earmarked for the Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS) and the proposed Special Investment Regions in States.

Other than generating employment for professionals, it is expected to throw open employment opportunities for the local people in the locale too.

An authority has been proposed for according hassle-free clearances for entrepreneurs in the region. Mobilising funds has been cited as one of the significant tasks.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle2152564.ece

[psanthosh]

now we are in JULY. Any update?

Originally Posted by e_arunsid

Lets wait for the official press release. Some time back there were news that Deloitte n Perot Systems were looking for space in LnT Tejomaya..But that didnt happen and they withdrew their plans for kochi.

For Kochiietes JULY will be the most awaited month

[e_arunsid]

Originally Posted by psanthosh

now we are in JULY. Any update?

No Updates. close the case.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by e_arunsid

No Updates. close the case.

What was the case?

[rajkrish]

open the case. It's most probably Accenture.

Originally Posted by e_arunsid

No Updates. close the case.

[psanthosh]

so Accenture is in Kochi?

[mohammedirshad06]

The draft of the new IT policy of Kerala will be published next week. This was announced by the State Minister for Industries and IT, Shri P K Kunhalikutty at a session organised by GTech, the Group of Technology companies based in the Government owned IT Parks in Kerala. The Minister added that the draft, which has been finalised, may be published as early as next Monday.

While asking all the players in the IT industry to study the draft proposal in detail and come out with positive comments, the Minister said, “We hope the policy would aggressively promote the State’s IT industry. It’s only a starting point, give us good suggestions and we will make changes in the final policy”. As part of the 100 day programme of the UDF Government, which came into power in May, the Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy had announced a new IT policy for the State.

V K Mathews, President, GTech and Chairman, IBS, put forth the expectations of the IT industry from the new government. He stressed upon the need for government support to the IT industry in Kerala in terms of rental freeze, incentives for job creation and supply of power / utilities at preferential rates. GTech has also asked for industry representation in the Policy Implementation Boards of Technopark, Trivandrum; Infopark, Kochi and Cyberpark, Kozhikode.

He also called for the relaxation in policy norms which would enable SME’s in Kerala to bid for Kerala Government’s e-Governance projects. This would be good for the government and the companies. The idea of an ‘Invest in Kerala’ mission for promoting investments was mooted by GTech during the session.

In his talk, T Balakrishnan IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Dept. of Industries & Commerce said, “Success of home-grown companies will reflect the investment environment in the State and this should encourage more start-ups and others to come to Kerala. But we need to change the ‘not-so-friendly’ image across the investment community”. C P John, Socio-Economic Analyst, made a presentation on the challenges ahead for the IT industry in Kerala.

Mervin Alexander, CEO, Technopark and Binu Sankar, CEO, GTech were among the 200 odd CXOs from about 100 IT Companies from the IT parks in Kerala, who were present on the occasion.

http://keralaitnews.com/it-parks/tec...shed-next-week