Infosys bets on Visakhapatnam IT hub

Visakhapatnam: Co-founder and executive vice-chairman of Infosys, Kris Gopalakrishnan, is optimistic that Vizag will soon emerge as a mega Information Technology hub in Andhra Pradesh. Talking to Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of a CEOs’ conclave held here on Monday, Mr Gopalakrishnan said, “Vizag has its  unique characteristics and I am optimistic that the city will develop on its own in becoming a mega IT destination.

With the right kind of policies that the state government has unveiled, Vizag will definitely emerge as the IT capital of AP.” He commended the state government’s initiatives like the incubation and startup village, innovation and startup policy, which, he said, would put Vizag and AP on the global map.

“I was there at the startup village and I must appreciate the kind of facilities the government has created there. There are also talented students available in Vizag. The region has both, natural and human resources. I am confident and envisage that billionaires will come out utilising this startup village in Vizag. Infosys also had a humble beginning,” he added.

According to sources in the state information technology and communication department, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will soon write to the Infosys board asking it to start a campus in Vizag.

Meanwhile Naidu vows to make Vizag india’s silicon valley

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to replicate the Silicon Valley of the United States in AP at Vizag. Speaking at the CEO Conclave here on Monday, Mr Naidu said that Vizag will be the Silicon Corridor of India and said that AP will grow as fast as Google.

He also aimed to beat Hyderabad. He said, “It took me nine years to put Hyderabad on the global map. I am confident that I will be able to do the same with Vizag and AP in four years. If it is “Make in India” for the Prime Minister, my goal aim will be “Made in Andhra.”

He said Vizag  is the third largest city on the East coast after Kolkata and Chennai and has the required  capability to become AP’s financial and industrial capital and also that of India, beating Mumbai with good governance and honest administration. I know at what pace and speed Google works and am ready to compete with Google in developing AP.

The state will grow and develop as fast as how Google as a company had grown. If it PM’s Make in India, my goal and aim will be Made in Andhra.” Mr Naidu further said that the government is committed to connect every home in the state with high bandwidth within two years and asked Google India representatives who attended the conclave to be ready to network all the households with Internet. He added that 8,000 Dwcra groups will go online very soon.

Recollecting his experiences with IT and Internet, he recalled the success stories and humble beginnings of Infosys, Google and Infotech. Unveiling his vision and aim for the state, Mr Naidu said AP will be among top three states of the country by 2019 and by 2022 it will be the number one in the country. He was confident in achieving it by
seeing the enthusiasm at the conclave.

Counting the advantages of Vizag, Mr Naidu said it is the third largest city on the east coast after Kolkata and Chennai, having all the required qualities to become the financial and industrial capital of AP and also India beating Mumbai. He asked students to think differently from Class 8 onwards and becoming entrepreneurs.

He asked Sanjay Vijaya Kumar of Kochi Start Up Village to replicate the Kerala model in Vizag’s startup village too. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating his ideas of Make in India, Swach Bharat, Jandhan Yojana as inclusive and futuristic.