ON WEST BENGAL    > Fiscal & Industrial Initiatives   > WB-THE IT EDGE

West Bengal has traditionally been a pioneer in the Information Technology sector. The first Centers of Excellence were established and the first generation computer was built here in Kolkata. In fact the first cross-continent telegraph linkage between India and the outside world was set up between Kolkata and London more than a hundred years ago.
First computer installed in India at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, in 1995

Development and commissioning of the first 'second-generation' general purpose computer in India (ISIJU-1) done in Kolkata by ISI in collaboration with Jadavpur University in 1966

The Government of West Bengal has identified Information Technology (IT) as one of the thrust areas in the state’s progress towards industrial and economic development. Research has shown that the state offers compelling value propositions to investors across all the five critical factors that enable successful IT Services (ITS), IT Enabled Services (ITES), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and other IT businesses such as software, as follows: -

1. POLICY

• Dedicated IT Policy
• Dedicated ITES Policy
• E-governance and IT literacy drive

2. INFRASTRUCTURE

• Reliable Telecom and Power infrastructure
• Walk-in physical infrastructure – intelligent buildings etc.
• Comparable social infrastructure and air connectivity

3. TALENT

• High Quality
• Large Talent Pool available
• Low Attrition
• Domain knowledge in specific industry verticals
• Positive Social Attitude to Education

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4. COST OF OPERATIONS

• Low cost of talent
• Lowest cost-of-living amongst top 8 cities
• Lowest operation cost among top 8 cities
• Highest, most attractive incentive package in the country

5. INVESTOR SUPPORT

• West Bengal Electronics Development Corporation (WEBEL) – the Single Window support centre for all IT investors
• Assistance with land and buildings
• Liaison with Government bodies – Telecom, Electricity Board, Municipality etc.
• Authority to grant registration in the Software Technology Parks of India Scheme.
• Nodal agency for facilitating development of IT in the state
  
  
  
  

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• Hence the state has seen excellent growth in the IT Industry and attracted several major players. Export revenues from the Kolkata Software Technology Park have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 114% between 1996-97 and 2000-01. Some of the major players here are Agilent Technologies, Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS), Computer Associates (CA), HCL Infosystems, IBM, ITC Infotech, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), Schlumberger Sema, Siemens, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and WIPRO, to name a few. According to "The Economist" (11 Jan 2003), three of these – HCL, WIPRO and TCS are emerging as the dominant forces in Indian outsourcing. The feature goes on to state that "just as the global outsourcing firms are increasing their presence in India, (as can be seen from the above list), so the leading local firms are becoming more multinational. As big multinationals resume their efforts to cut costs, Indian firms are well placed to take advantage of the outsourcing opportunity".
  
  

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