Staff Reporter : The Hindu

More than 25 companies launched operations in the last two years

Over 400 persons are employed at the park

Cost-effectiveness and connectivity are plus points


Kozhikode: The Techno Industrial Park of the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) at Kakkancherry, bordering Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, is attracting small and medium enterprises (SME), particularly in the software field.

Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) companies are evincing a keen interest to establish their presence here at a time when software exports are showing signs of a global slow down on account of the sub-prime crisis in U.S.

About 25 companies launched operations, investing more than Rs.10 crore, in the last couple of years. Together, these companies employed over 400 persons, said K.N. Srikumar, spokesman for Kinfra.

He said that a majority of these companies dealt with software development, web designing, e-business application, web hosting application and business process outsourcing. Many of these companies were based in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, but several had foreign collaborations.

Companies range from those working with the State Information Infrastructure Project to units providing software solutions to domestic and international business firms. Some of them offer computer training, management consultancy tools, animation, advertisement and designing services, business management system softwares and business intelligence website development, he said.

Last week, Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim inaugurated an offshore development centre of Sweans Technologies which focuses on business process outsourcing and web applications development. The company has already invested Rs.65 lakh and would pump in additional Rs.35 lakh in the near future to upgrade its activities. The company would recruit over 100 freshers and experienced persons for the unit, said Sweans Technologies chief executive officer Ajay C. Thomas.

“Our company delivers high-quality IT services to small and medium clients around the world. Our expertise in the industry helps the SMEs extend their reach around the world,” he said. The company has entered into agreements with a leading claims processing company in Australia, an internet research company in the U.K. and a leading auto company in the U.S. for their BPO and e-commerce needs, Mr. Thomas said.

The United Arab Emirates-based Morison Menon Group of Companies started two new companies — Menon BPO and Ipix Solutions — at the industrial park recently. Menon BPO provides outsourcing services for bookkeeping, accounting, payroll management, human resource administration and U.S. tax returns. Ipix Solutions offers services in web development, software development, e-commerce website designing, web maintenance, domain registration and web hosting.

A reason cited for the emergence of the industrial park is its cost- effectiveness compared to other cities. IT and ITES companies are booming here, although food processing units have been given preference. It is also slated to become another Special Economic Zone in north Kerala.

Another favourable factor is connectivity. The Kinfra park is situated only 10 km away from the airport and is well-connected by National Highway 17.

It was just a half-an-hour drive from Kozhikode city, Mr. Srikumar said.