Performing against all odds, export of software and IT enabled services from Mohali, Chandigarh and Panchkula have jumped to Rs 1,051.23 crore (Rs 10.52 billion) in 2008-09 against Rs 806.01 crore (Rs 8.06 billion) in 2007-08, as per data provided by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
"With the global slowdown casting its shadow on majority of industrial sectors including IT, we were unsure of even touching Rs 1,000-crore (Rs 10 billion) mark from this region under current circumstances...but the industry has managed to clock handsome growth in spite of meltdown impact," STPI Joint Director Ajay Shrivastava said.
Of the total export of Rs 1,051.23 crore, the exports from SEZs of Chandigarh zoomed to Rs 318 crore (Rs 3.18 billion) in 2008-09, posting a growth of 127 per cent in one year of its operation.
Infosys Technologies continued to retain the position of top IT exporter from here as its total exports, including SEZ, was Rs 565.14 crore (Rs 5.65 billion) against Rs 342.88 crore (Rs 3.42 billion) in the year-ago period.
Interestingly, the exports of Infosys account for almost half of the total IT exports from the tricity of Mohali, Panchkula and Chandigarh.
"The growth of IT exports from this region clearly indicates that this region is the upcoming IT destination in the country," said Infosys Technologies Head-Delivery Sameer Goel.
However, Dell Technologies, which is second highest IT exporter, achieved export of Rs 124.78 crore (Rs 1.24 billion) in 2008-09, as per the data.
Apart from remaining on growth path, the industry has also added 19 new companies, taking the total operational IT companies in this region to close to 300. "New investments coming at this point of time when margins are under pressure due to slowdown is also an encouraging factor for the industry to look for higher growth," said an IT analyst.