The stage is set to unveil the much-awaited Information Technology Policy of Telangana State government. The policy would be announced on April 4 at a programme to be held in the presence of Indian IT guru and Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy and several IT industry luminaries from India and abroad. The State government will also announce policies for four specific sectors – innovation, rural technology, electronics and GAME (gaming, animation, media and entertainment). Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would announce the policy on IT which aims at promoting the industry and also exports from the service sector of the State.

The objective of the policy would be to facilitate and ensure growth of the IT industry and employment generation thereby augmenting the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and also leading to the overall socio-economic development of the State.

Over a period of time, Hyderabad has become a premier global destination for IT and ITeS industry, next only to Bengaluru. There are 1,300 IT units employing about 3.7 lakh professionals in the State, with an annual export turnover of Rs 68,258 crore in 2014-15. About 89 new units were established during 2014-15.

Key points of the policy include provision of industry-friendly climate for IT companies to locate, grow and sustain their operations. It aims to create new skill development initiatives and employment opportunities for the educated youth of all sections across all regions. Achieving higher levels of export turnover resulting in enhanced productivity and augmentation of GSDP, is also one of the objectives.

The State wants to ensure that innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged, IT spreads to tier-II cities such as Karimnagar, Warangal and Mahbubnagar and to leverage IT as a tool for the socio-economic development of the State, through the policy. It is expected that the global outsourcing market would triple from $500 billion to $1.5 trillion by 2020. The export component of the Indian industry is expected to expand three-fold and reach $175 billion in revenue by that year. The domestic market for IT services would grow to $50 billion.

The State government has already taken several initiatives to promote the IT sector. It launched T-Hub on November 5, 2015, as a unique public-private partnership between the Government of Telangana, three of India’s premier academic institutes (IIIT-H, ISB and NALSAR) and key private sector leaders.

The Centre has granted Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Hyderabad which would export IT products worth Rs 2.35 lakh crore with additional direct employment to 15 lakh people and indirect employment to 53 lakh people over 25 years.

Image Incubation Centre meant for gaming and animation sector has a potential of over $42 billion worldwide and about $1 billion market in India. Hyderabad region has been identified as one of the potential places for the growth of gaming and animation industry due to the presence of a vibrant industry and talented IT professional workforce.

Warangal city has been identified as tier-II IT hub with suitable infrastructure facilities for IT companies to start their operations through TSIIC.

Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) is introduced for bringing synergy among institutions of government, industry and academia with an objective of offering quality human resources and services to the industry and enhancing the employability quotient of youth in the State.

At a recent programme, IT Minister K T Rama Rao said that the policy would provide all support and incentives required to give impetus to the sector to not only sustain the growth in Hyderabad but tap the next wave of growth. KTR said that Hyderabad attracted investment by many companies last year. More than 50,000 jobs were added in the sector, while there was indirect employment for 2.5 lakh people.