Bhubaneswar, Nov. 21: The information technology enabled services (ITeS) sector, which was lagging behind the IT segment in Orissa, is fast catching up.
Close on the heels of the inauguration of ICICI Group’s eastern regional hub here, Genpact — arguably India’s largest BPO — today broke ground to set up an office in the upcoming Infocity Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the new facility in the presence of Genpact president and CEO Pramod Bhasin at a ceremony held at the Infocity.
Assuring all support from his government, Patnaik said Orissa has made “significant strides” in the IT sector. In 2006-07 Orissa grabbed the ninth spot in terms of software exports, notching a growth rate of 58 per cent vis-à-vis the national average of 30 per cent.
Spread over 12.145 acre, the SEZ facility would grow in three phases between 2009 and 2011. On completion, a 500,000sqft of office space would be available for 4,000 Genpact employees. While ICICI’s hub promises an employment potential for more than 15,000 general graduates, Genpact promises employment to 5,000 students. So far it has imparted training to 500 professionals.
“With infrastructure, talent and government backing we see Bhubaneswar emerging as an important site for outsourcing industry,” said Bhasin. Bhubaneswar would be the seventh city of operations for Genpact in India.
It also operates in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur and Calcutta.
Genpact was recently allotted 50 acre by the Andhra Pradesh government and 25acre by the Rajasthan government for development of SEZs. Genpact grabbed the top spot in a 2007 list compiled by Nasscom of top 15 ITeS-BPO companies in India. State’s IT minister Surya Narayan Patro said: “It’s a matter of great pride that a global leader like Genpact has decided to set up operations here.”
“This milestone recognises Orissa’s strength in offering a favourable climate for investment, strong infrastructure and a young and talented workforce,” he added.
He hoped that the establishment would act as a catalyst for other IT companies to invest in the state.
