Briefing reporters, West Bengal IT Minister-in-Charge Debesh Das said many companies were flocking to West bengal owing to the low cost of operation, proactive government policies, availability of regular power as also the talent pool.

According to Mr Das, IT giants like Wipro, TCS and Infosys have approached the West Bengal government for further grant of land for expansion of their activities. While Infosys has sought around 100 acres of land, TCS has asked for 40 acres and about similar number has been requisitioned by Wipro. Besides these three, he said, Tech Mahindra, patni Computers, ITC Infotech and HTMT are planning expansion in West Bengal.

Once these IT companies set up shop there, the recruitment potential is expected to touch nearly two lakh by 2010. West Bengal currently boasts around 500 IT companies employing more than 55,000 professionals with export revenues touching Rs 3,600 crore.

Fiscal year 2006-07 saw the state register a growth of 46 per cent as against the national average of 32 per cent. The state plans to contribute 15 per cent share of India’s total IT/ITES exports by 2010, he added.