Google Partners With Andhra Pradesh for State's IT Vision

After partnering for the Digital India initiative of the central government, Internet services giant Google has joined hands with Andhra Pradesh government to provide technology support for a similar project.

Google India Managing Director Rajan Anandan Monday signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government officials in Visakhapatnam in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the conclave of CEOs of Information Technology (IT) companies.

Anandan said under the MoU, Google and Andhra Pradesh government will work for increasing the penetration of Telugu on Internet.

Google will partner with academic institutions to create quality content in Telugu for the Internet. It will also help official media like magazines to get on to Internet. "This will make Telugu Internet a reality," he said.

According to officials, Google will also help women entrepreneurs get online.

Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said he will make Andhra Pradesh number one digital state in the country.

The event also marked the launch of a Technology Research and Incubation Park at Madhurawada IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The state government signed MoU with Kochi-based Start-up Village for managing the incubation park, the first such facility in the state.

The company will work with various stakeholders, including universities, colleges and students along with industry and private partners, to build a world-class startup ecosystem.

The state government also signed MoU with various IT companies for setting up their facilities in and around Visakhapatnam. These include MoU with Tech Mahindra for its facility over 10 acres of land. This centre is expected to provide 5,000 jobs.

Another MoU was signed with Wipro to accord SEZ status to its existing campus in the city. The facility will increase the number of jobs to 7,000.

Under another agreement, the government allotted 13 acres at Gambheeram IT SEZ to Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER), an autonomous research lab under the department of rlectronics and IT in the ministry of communications and IT, to set up a research and development centre.

Naidu said Tessolve had evinced interest to establish a facility in Visakhapatnam. He said this augurs well for the start of semi-conductor industry. "IT companies like Intense and CoMakeIT have decided to start development centres in AP," he said.

The chief minister said he planned to create a Signature Tower at Madhurawada with one million square feet space, to symbolize the resurgence of IT in Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu vowed to develop Silicon corridor in Visakhapatnam on the lines of Silicon Valley in the US. He said while it took nine years for him to develop Hyderabad as a major IT destination, Visakhapatnam will emerge as the preferred destination in four years.

The coastal city with moderate climate and all natural and human resources has immense potential, he said.

Naidu invited IT majors to set up their facilities in Andhra Pradesh. This was his first interaction with CEOs of IT majors since taking over as the chief minister of residuary state of Andhra Pradesh in June.

Naidu said he wants to make Andhra Pradesh as one of the top three states in the country in IT and electronics sector. The government has prepared a comprehensive blueprint on IT, electronics and e-governance. It also launched policies for IT, electronics, innovation and startups.

Those who attended the CEOs conclave include IBM vice president P. Gopalakrishnan, Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, TCS vice president and Hyderabad centre Head V. Rajanna, Cyient chairman and Nasscom vice president B.V.R. Mohan Reddy.