Tiruchi to become IT ‘growth model’ - Says IT Minister

Source : The Hindu

Tiruchi is poised to serve as a model for IT growth in tier-II cities in Tamil Nadu, according to Minister for Information Technology Poongothai Aladi Aruna.

Tamil Nadu has pioneered the initiative to showcase the potential for accelerating IT development in tier-II cities. The Empower IT conclave at CARE School of Engineering on December 4 involving participation of over 10,000 from 106 professional and arts and science colleges in eight central districts will project Tiruchi as a potential investment location to front-ranking IT companies, Ms. Poongothai said addressing a press conference on Tuesday.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has envisaged Empower IT as a forum to sensitise the student community to the requirements of IT industry with the larger objective of expediting economic growth in the State, Ms. Poongothai said. The event will be graced by Member of Parliament Kanimozhi, Ministers K.N. Nehru and N. Selvaraj, Secretary of IT Department P.W.C. Davidar, and CEOs of IT/ITES industry, she said.

To a query on the progress of works at the Tiruchi IT Park in Navalpattu, the Minister said the internal infrastructure works would be completed in three months. Construction of the 50,000 sq feet building would be completed in ten months.

According to Santhosh Babu, Managing Director of ELCOT which is organising the event in association with NASSCOM, Empower IT will showcase the quality of human resources in the region to the 50 participating IT companies. Chief Executive Officers of various IT companies are expected to address the students. Prize-winners of various competitions held on November 29 in 10 nodal colleges would be honoured at the conclave, he said. Along with Collector T. Soundiah, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University M. Ponnavaikko, Mr. Babu, and NASSCOM Regional Director K. Purushothaman, the Minister earlier chaired a preparatory meeting attended by principals of engineering and arts and science colleges. Chairman of the host institution K.N. Ramajayam also took part.