Software exports from TN to touch ₹1.76 lakh crore this year: Minister

Software exports from Tamil Nadu would touch ₹1.76 lakh crore this year thereby making the State reach the third position in the country, Minister T Mano Thangaraj said in Chennai on Wednesday (January 11).

The minister, holding the portfolio of information and technology and digital services, said at an event in Chennai that the government was focused on bringing in digitisation across departments to reduce the use of paper.

“We are exporting software to various countries. This year, the exports are expected to reach Rs 1.76 lakh crore making the State achieve the third rank in the country,” he said, after rolling out the 5G services of Reliance Infocomm’s Jio in several cities in Tamil Nadu.

Reason for rise in exports

The minister attributed the rise in software exports to the stable governance and the rollout of various sector-specific policies by the ruling DMK. “We have a telecom policy, data centre policy, and also research and development policy,” he pointed out.

Nearly 1.10 lakh files that were in the offices of various departments at the Secretariat have been digitised, and IT officials were currently engaged in integrating the data between departments, he said.

Also read: Software service exports rise 17% to $157 bn in FY22: RBI survey

“About 35 tonnes of paper is used in a government office, and since the paper is sourced from trees, paperless service is needed,” he said. Therefore, nearly 235 government services were currently provided to the public through the online process.

The minister referred to Chief Minister M K Stalin’s comments on boosting economic activity in tier-II and III cities so that there was an inclusive development across the State.

Thangaraj asks corporates to join hands in training students

Thangaraj said the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Academy was providing training to skilling and upskilling several students and appealed to corporates to join hands in this connection.

“We request people like you (Reliance Jio) to join us through the corporate social responsibility initiative to offer training to employees,” he said while addressing employees of Reliance Jio Infocomm.

Also read: TN 3rd among all states in exports in 2021, 4 districts export $10k million

The 5G service was launched in Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Hosur, and Vellore, besides Chennai.

According to officials, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd had invested ₹40,446 crore in Tamil Nadu for deploying the 5G network which would generate one lakh jobs directly and indirectly.