Continuously, more and more foreign IT firms are opening their eyes to the exploding IT market in India. All industries in India have traditionally been far behind the western world when it comes to the use of information technology at all stages of production. With a growing focus on efficiency most Indian firms realise the necessity of information technology. This represents great market opportunities to the world's IT providers.
SOFTWARE
Ten years ago, India was seen as a source of inexpensive programmers. Today
India offers a combination of low cost and high quality personnel. So far, 41
companies have received the ISO 9000 certification, and about 70 more companies
are in the pipeline. This will give India the highest number of ISO 9000
companies in the world for the software sector.
India's software industry is estimated to be worth about USD 1.2 billion,
compared to only USD 10 million ten years ago. Nevertheless, the growth has been
limited to only a few cities. The industry is mainly concentrated around
Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi,Noida and international giants like HCL ,Cadance,HCL
Parrot is already present in Noida.
Manpower
Information technology is among the fastest growing industries in India, and
employs more than 125,000 people. High quality and low cost manpower give the
Indian software industry an advantage in the world market. The fact that India
constitutes the second largest English speaking manpower resource in the world,
is making the country even more competitive.
In India there are 1,670 institutions which offer a computer education, and
these institutions train more than 41,000 people annually.The No. of Reputed
institution like ER&DCI, IEC Engineering & Information technology
College are working in Noida.
The Software Technology Parks of India
The Software Technology Park (STP) scheme is a 100 per cent export oriented
scheme. It is similar to the Export Processing Zones and the Export Oriented
Units schemes (discussed in a separate chapter). To implement the STP scheme,
the Indian government under the Department of Electronics (DoE) has set up an
autonomous organisation called the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
Today there are STPs in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar (near Ahmedabad),
Thiruvananthapuram, Noida (near Delhi), Pune and Bhuvaneswar. STPs have also
been set up in Jaipur and Calcutta by the State Governments of Rajasthan and
West Bengal.
The STPs are available for both Indian (private and public) and foreign
companies. 100 per cent foreign equity is permitted. Several benefits are given
to the member computer software exporting units: the STPs offer general
infrastructure facilities like utility power, ready to use built-up space and
dedicated data communication links.
The IT Industry in Noida
The IT industry is the backbone of NOIDA's economy .Given the general boom in the IT industry in India.There is a possibility that many IT units will be set up in Noida provided the relevant infrastructure is available.NOIDA has the potential to become one of the leading centers of the It industry on the lines of Bangalore and Hyderabad.
The Present Status
Apart from the NEPZ which houses several It units,there is a software technology park at the Ganga Shopping Complex.Approximately 15-16 units have occupied one phase of the shopping complex.The Infrastructure facilities available are not satisfactory and leaves much to be desired relative to the requirements of the IT industry.Some of these units were contacted in order to get an insight into the current status of the the IT industry in Noida.
Government Initiative