Intel plan might revive sick units

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recent tie-up of IT major Intel with the UST Global and state government would see the setting up of a major IT manufacturing facility in the state and could also see the revival of sick units of Keltron. UST Global chief executive officer Sajan Pillai told reporters here on Tuesday that as part of the recent tripartite agreement, Intel plans to set up manufacturing facility for servers, laptops and tablet computers in Kerala. A study on how to shape up the project by utilising the existing facilities like the manufacturing units of Keltron was also being explored. The state government was also exploring the option of wooing some international players in manufacturing sectors to the state.

“A clear picture on developing the ecosystem for the hardware sector would emerge by this month," said Mr Pillai. As part of its expansions, UST Global has set up a Cyber Security Operations Centre in it Thiruvananthapuram campus. It would be operational by next year and would partner with the state police’s Cyberdome.

“There is a good opportunity for cyber security,” said Mr Pillai. He said that UST Global, which is the first billion dollar technology start-up from Kerala, would be launching a series of support programmes, including funding schemes, for start-ups. “Our plan is to begin with a $ 50 million fund to support start-ups. The internship progrmme for engineering colleges students launched in association with APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University is also receiving good response,” he said.

UST Global, which had grown from a 14-member start-up in Kerala to a global firm with about 18,000 employees in 18 years, is now focusing on re-skilling its workforce with the emerging technologies. “We are offering programmes to re-skill our workforce, while making fresh recruitments. A major section of workforce can be re-skilled,” said Mr Pillai.