MADURAI: Madurai-based IT companies feel that the city should have been included in the state government’s plans to set up Tamil Nadu Tech City (TN Tech City) as it has high growth potential with a big manpower to boot. Chennai, Coimbatore and Hosur were proposed in the state budget for the project to promote Tamil Nadu as a global hub for IT and ITES, and cater to the growing need for office space.
Techies in Madurai point out the interest evinced by investors in city-based IT companies. India’s top SaaS (software-as-a-service) firm, Zoho, is looking to hire around 1,300 employees for its new office under construction in Kappalur. Experts say if a market leader like Zoho is ready to invest in the Madurai region, it shows the potential of the city. Members of Software Industries Development Association (SIDA), a cluster of 55 IT and ITeS industries in Madurai, said big companies are acquiring Madurai-based companies as they are performing well. Recently, Happiest Minds Technologies acquired Sri Mookambika Infosolutions for Rs 111 crore. Teeyes Siva, president of SIDA, said, IT companies in the city have to group under a single umbrella to show the city’s potential to the state. “In Madurai, we have IT companies in all domains,” he said.