Tech savvy Kerala

Imagine taking a boat across the backwaters of Kumarakom to your office in Ambalapara—everyday. The Kerala government’s policy of developing infrastructure for information technology, using the “hub & spoke” model, is taking IT close to tourism locations within the state. A new brand is likely to be unveiled sometime in 2009.

The infotech department in Kerala is headed by Ajay Kumar. Kumar told BT: “We are creating a supply push in two ways. We are partnering with the private sector to create IT infrastructure and also creating a finishing school at polytechnic institutes to create ITready manpower.” Kumar pointed out that cost-wise Kerala is a great destination with wages, electricity and realty costs all being low.

Siddhartha Bhattacharya, CEO, Kochi Infopark, says: “The upcoming Cyberpark at Kozhikode will be one of the hubs, and the spokes will be 50-70 kilometres away, right into tourism country.”

New IT-tourism projects in Kerala
. Cyber Park, Kozhikode— the 3rd hub
. Kannur and Kasargode—IT parks with SEZ status
. Smart City Kochi—JV with TECOM Investments, Dubai
. Kollam—SEZ application pending
. Cherthala—SEZ application approved
. Technocity in Trivandrum—SEZ with hotels and convention centre
. Kerala State IT Infrastructure—to go public

—Suman Layak