Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao, today unveiled the Telangana ICT Policy, 2016 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre at 3 pm. Along with the primary document, four other Policies viz. Rural Tech Centres Policy, Innovation Policy, Electronics Policy and Gaming & Animation Policy – were also released at a special function organized here. Hon’ble Chief Minister had ceremonially presented the copies of Policies to Sri ESL Narasimhan, Hon’ble Governor Telangana & AP, Sri NR Narayana Murthy Hon’ble Chairman Emeritus, Infosys and Sri KT Rama Rao, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Panchayat Raj and MAUD. Cabinet Ministers, legislators from Telangana, prominent industry, business leaders from different verticals, senior bureaucrats and other stakeholders also graced the event.

On the sidelines of the main programme, twenty five (25) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Intent were signed by the Government of Telangana and its arms TASK and T-Hub with leading financial, educational, business, industry and not-for-profit organizations. The areas covered under the agreements include, but not limited to, financial services, sunrise technologies, Animation, Gaming, Multimedia and Entertainment, ESDM, Communications, Skill Development among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao said, “It is well known that many regions of the world today are thriving because of the Information Technology revolution. Hyderabad, Telangana’s crown jewel, is already a magnet which attracts the best in the world, and our government intends to embellish it even further to make it standout as the most preferred destination for the IT companies.

“The new Industrial Policy released by our Government is widely considered to be path-breaking and revolutionary. Coming close on its heels, I am confident that the new IT policy will also be similar in its impact, and will become a role model for the rest of the country.”

Hon’ble Minister for IT, Panchayat Raj and MAUD Sri KT Rama Rao elaborated on the vision of Telangana Government with respect to ICT and allied sectors in the State. He said, “Hyderabad has justifiably earned a reputation for being a welcoming and cosmopolitan city over the last few centuries thanks to the progressive, outward looking attitude of its erstwhile rulers. When the IT sector was opening up in the country in the mid-90s, Hyderabad became a natural choice for the IT majors and positioned itself as a critical national and international IT hub. The presence of leading national research and academic institutions has served to further promote the growth of IT in Hyderabad.

“Lack of agility from key decision-makers during the years leading to the formation of Telangana State resulted in Hyderabad missing out on many opportunities that should have otherwise come its way automatically. I am happy to state that the moments of uncertainty and indecisiveness are all behind us now. We now have a very decisive and focused leadership, which is extremely serious about making amends for the lost years. With a keen appreciation of the importance that the IT sector has to the life of every individual in Telangana, the Government accords highest priority to the further growth of Information Technology in the state, not just in Hyderabad city but also in Tier II, Tier III and other smaller towns and villages.

“Our Policy focuses not only on consolidating our strengths but also on making pioneering efforts into new and emerging areas. We might have got on the IT bus later than others in the past, but I am confident that we will not only be on the bus in time but also drive it.”

Salient features of ICT Policy and other Allied Policies launched today

ICT Policy:

Vision statement summary:

• Telangana should become the most preferred destination for any IT company which is planning to commence new activities anywhere in the world

• Telangana should be recognized as leader in key emerging technologies

• Telangana government aims to intensively use IT tools to improve processes and deliver citizen services better and stand out as a role model for smart governance

• Citizens of Telangana will be empowered to make the best use of the opportunities emerging in an increasingly digital world

• Telangana should become a leading global hub for technology entrepreneurship and innovation in the country

The State Government has identified following 10 focus areas:

1. Expansion of IT/ITES Units
2. Electronics
3. Entrepreneurship
4. Skilling
5. Procurement of IT Products and Services by the Government
6. New Initiatives
7. E-Governance & M-Governance
8. Digital Telangana
9. Promotions
10. Enhanced quality of Living

Innovation Policy:
Innovation Policy aims to build up on positive response to T-Hub and put Hyderabad & Telangana on the global innovation map. It takes cue from relevant leading ecosystems in Silicon Valley, London, Berlin and Singapore.

Vision and Goals:

• Government plans to develop 1 million sq.ft. of work space dedicated to startups in the next 5 years.
• T-Hub Phase 2, a 3,00,000 sq.ft facility that will house 900 startups shall be completed within the next 5 years
• Build 2 incubators in Tier II locations of the state
• Facilitate the growth of 5000 startups in the state including 1000 IT product, 300 Electronics and 400 clean-tech startups

Rural Tech Policy:
Companies across the spectrum are realizing that smaller towns and villages are great places to locate businesses, especially large technology development and support centres. Policy on Rural Technology Centres (RTCs) provides the framework to facilitate this inclination. Government of Telangana aims to develop rural areas into Technology Centres which in turn aid in wealth and job creation.

Goals:

• Develop one Rural Technology Centre in each of the 10 districts of Telangana
• Provide employment to at least 2,500 people through RTCs
• Train 10,000 rural youth through TASK with the skills required by RTCs

Electronics Policy:
Telangana has continuously been at the forefront of electronics manufacturing in the country. The traditional entrepreneurial spirit of the locals, coupled with the access to skilled workforce and inherent supply chain advantages of the location have resulted in tremendous growth of the ESDM industry over the last two decades.

Vision and Goals:
Promoting Telangana as the ideal destination for Electronics Industry through creation of sustainable ecosystem, making the industry a major contributor to employment and economy in the State.

Telangana aspires to achieve the following targets by 2020:

1. Attract investments to the tune of USD 3 billion in ESDM sector
2. Create an employment of 160,000
3. Enhance the Production from approximately USD 1 billion to USD 7.5 billion

Gaming & Animation Policy:
Hyderabad is already the home to a significant number of Gaming & Animation companies, many of whom have already made a mark in international and domestic levels.

Goals:
The State will create dedicated infrastructure in the form of ‘GAME city’ – a 6 lakh sq. ft. space that will provide facilities for Animation and Gaming companies, Digital Film Production houses, Music and TV studios, training academies, Entertainment complexes etc.