Bihar government mulls incentives for IT companies

PATNA: The state government would unveil two policies related to information technology - IT & ITES Promotion Policy and Electronic System Design and Manufacture Promotion Policy - during the upcoming national IT conclave, christened Bihar State Hackathon, which will be held on the premises of BIT-Patna on September 13 and 14.

The two policies would have incentives for firms dealing in IT, ITES and electronic manufacturing centres to set up their units in Bihar. The state IT department would unveil the draft of the new policies at the conclave to seek feedback from the industry experts.

"As of now, IT and electronic manufacturing sectors are broadly included in Industrial Investment Promotion Policy, 2016 and Bihar Start-Up Policy-2016. However, it has been lately felt that we require separate policies to promote investment in IT and electronic manufacturing sectors. Accordingly, draft of two new policies related to IT and electronics manufacturing sector would be unveiled at the IT conclave to seek feedback from prospective investors," Vishal Anand, officer on special duty at IT department told TOI on Saturday.

Senior officials in IT department said several provisions in the new policies would deal with development of required infrastructure, separate clusters for electronic manufacturing activities, including mobile handsets, CCTV units and television sets.

The state government is also working on development of infrastructure in order to provide office space to prospective investors. Senior officials said the state government is in the final stages of getting land for the proposed IT Park at Bihta, IT City at Rajgir and an IT Tower at Dakbungalow Crossing in Patna.

The state IT department will also organise an industry consultation meet for prospective investors at Bangalore on August 31 and 1. "Our target audiences for the IT conclave to be held in Patna are firms and professionals working in the IT sector. Bangalore being an IT hub, we want to promote our conclave there," Vishal added.

Audit and consulting firm KPMG was recently roped in by the IT department for brand promotion of Bihar in the IT sector. Direct invitations have also been sent to CEOs of leading IT companies, top notch professionals and investors from across the country for the event.

Apart from IT and electronics sectors, the IT department is also working on new policies for cyber security and gaming animations. "The idea is to ensure a robust legal framework related to IT and allied sectors in Bihar for the prospective investors," Vishal said.