Facing a lack of enthusiasm from the central government regarding the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project, the Telangana state government has urged consideration of an alternative initiative to accelerate the growth of the state’s IT sector. In a letter to Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao expressed concern about the apparent disinterest in continuing the ITIR scheme. He requested the formulation of a new scheme or initiative to ensure the continued prosperity of cities like Hyderabad, offering employment opportunities for the youth.

Rao emphasized in the letter that the delays in the ITIR project by the central government have resulted in significant time wastage and the denial of employment opportunities to eligible youth. He lamented that the lackadaisical approach of the Union government has deprived lakhs of local youth of job prospects.

Highlighting Telangana’s IT exports, which are expected to grow by over 7% to reach Rs 1.4 lakh crore in 2020-21, Rao referred to Nasscom data projecting national IT exports to touch $150 billion with a growth rate of approximately 1.9%. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyderabad managed to create 8.7 million square feet of new office space and attract major companies like Amazon Web Services, Goldman Sachs, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).

Rao underscored the Telangana government’s commitment to promoting emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics, IoT, and cybersecurity. The state’s proactive stance in encouraging product development, research and development, and skill development in these emerging technology areas has attracted both global and domestic IT companies to establish their technology development centers in Hyderabad, he added.