Kerala Industries &Law minister P. Rajeeve is inviting IT companies in Bengaluru, Karnataka, to the state. The minister is wooing major IT companies from Bengaluru, facing a deepening water crisis. The state is highlighting its abundant water resources as a major advantage, contrasting it with Bengaluru’s daily water shortage of 500 million litres. “After we read reports of the water crisis in Bengaluru, we wrote to the IT companies offering them all facilities as well as plenty of water,” the minister told ET on Tuesday.
“We have 44 rivers, big and small, in our state, so water is not an issue at all.”
This move comes as Bengaluru, India’s IT hub, grapples with water scarcity. Traditionally the go-to destination for IT companies in India, Bengaluru’s woes are prompting other states to step up their game. Kerala is showcasing its infrastructure strengths, including existing tech parks in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode, along with plans for smaller parks in developing corridors. The state boasts a well-connected network of airports, roads, railways, and ports, making it an attractive location.
Kerala’s ambition: To become a Silicon Valley style hub
While Rajeeve declined to name specific companies being targeted, he mentioned ongoing discussions and Kerala’s ambition to become a “Silicon Valley” style hub. The state’s existing talent pool of tech graduates is another advantage being highlighted. “We are in discussions with some of them,” he said. “We want to develop our entire state on the lines of Silicon Valley. We have several advantages to host the tech sector, including a vast talent pool of technology graduates.
Kerala has a clear goal: to increase its IT workforce from 2,50,000 to 1 million within five years. The government plans to achieve this by building four IT corridors along National Highway 66.
This strategic move by Kerala highlights the growing competition among Indian states to attract the IT sector. With Bengaluru facing challenges, Kerala sees an opportunity to establish itself as a major player in the Indian IT landscape.
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