Chennai: Tamil Nadu is gearing up to cash in on the plethora of opportunities that ICT offers and would take governance to the next level. And in the process, the state government will provide ‘huge impetus’ to make Tamil Nadu a global SaaS (Software as a Service) destination, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said.
“Digital economy is the new revolution in the ICT, which experts claim will usher in third industrial revolution that is capable of creating jobs besides enhance the quality of life…this will also enhance country's economy, increase production besides improve services sector,” he said. The contribution of IT sector towards the GDP in 2017 had been 7.93 per cent, the CM said while speaking at the valedictory of Connect 2018, the 17th edition of the CII, held in association with the Government of Tamil Nadu here.
He asserted that his government wanted to take governance to the next level by using Information Technology for which various ICT tools have been adopted. “Chennai is the SaaS Capital of India. We propose to give a huge impetus to this sector to make Tamil Nadu a Global SaaS destination,” Mr Palaniswami said and appealed to the captains of the industries present on the occasion to extend their continued support by way of fresh investments in, industries and MSME sectors in the State.
The Software as a Service (SaaS) industry in Chennai, the SaaS hub of the country, is currently generating a revenue of over a billion dollars and employing over 10,000 employees.
Pointing out to the recently launched ICT Policy, 2018, the CM said this policy would address the aspirations of investors, especially those of IT and ITeS companies by providing standard administrative incentives, fiscal incentives, capital subsidies, tax exemptions, among the other things. Also provision for incubating start-ups and creation of research parks have been provided. “By implementing the ICT Policy-2018, the Government will achieve the targets for development of IT/ITeS sector in Tamil Nadu and it includes making Tamil Nadu the number one state in the sector in India,” he added.
