West Bengal's IT Sector Sees Remarkable Growth and Ambitious Expansion Plans
West Bengal has witnessed a dramatic surge in its software exports over the past decade and a half. According to Shubhanjan Das, Secretary of the IT and Electronics Department, these exports have skyrocketed from Rs 8,000 crore to more than Rs 40,000 crore. This impressive five-fold increase highlights the state's growing prominence in the technology sector.
Major Investments and the Bengal Silicon Valley Project
Das shared these figures during the 10th edition of the Tech Meet organized by ASSOCHAM on Friday. He revealed that the state's IT industry is now poised for a significant expansion. The government has lined up investments worth approximately Rs 30,000 crore for the ambitious 250-acre Bengal Silicon Valley project. This initiative aims to create a robust ecosystem for technology companies and startups.
"Any expansion proposal will be welcomed, and we will ensure projects take off smoothly," Das assured participants at the meet. The event focused on artificial intelligence, data centres, and global capability centres as key growth drivers for Bengal's IT landscape.
Expanding IT Footprint Beyond Kolkata
The state's IT presence is no longer confined to Kolkata alone. Das noted that it has expanded to towns like Siliguri and Durgapur. He specifically mentioned the state-run Siliguri Data Centre, which boasts high-quality infrastructure. The government actively encourages private players to utilize this facility for AI training and model building.
"Bengal's IT footprint has expanded from Kolkata to towns like Siliguri and Durgapur," Das stated. "The state-run Siliguri Data Centre has high infrastructure, and we want private players to use it for AI training and model building. The government is open to collaborations with private firms for the growth of this segment."
Rising Data Centre Capacity and New Developments
West Bengal now ranks sixth in India for data centre capacity. Currently, eleven private data centres are operational across the state. Additionally, the Software Technology Parks of India, an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is developing a new data centre. This facility is expected to become operational later this year.
Manjit Nayak, Director of STPI Kolkata, highlighted the state's upcoming GCC policy. He believes this policy will position Kolkata as a top destination for global capability centres in the country. "We support more than 2,000 startups in various ways, including financially," Nayak added, underscoring the supportive environment for innovation.
Recognition and Future Prospects
During the meet, Tata Consultancy Services received the prestigious IT Ratna award for achieving the highest software exports from Bengal. This recognition underscores the company's significant contribution to the state's IT exports.
Sushil Mohta, Chairman of the World Trade Center in Salt Lake, emphasized Bengal's emerging strength as a GCC destination. He pointed to the region's excellent academic institutions, deep talent pool, and improving infrastructure as key advantages. "We need to market ourselves better and showcase our achievements to position Bengal as a GCC destination, particularly in Europe," Mohta remarked.
The collective insights from industry leaders and government officials paint a promising picture for West Bengal's IT sector. With substantial investments, strategic expansions, and a focus on emerging technologies, the state is firmly on track to become a major hub for software exports, data centres, and global capability centres in India.
