Infosys to weigh options on W Bengal operations

IT major Infosys today said it will weigh options, including making the proposed West Bengal campus into a domestic development centre, after the state denied it the SEZ status with assurance of alternate benefits.

"If you look at the other companies which are already here, they are already enjoying the SEZ benefits. May be there is some other opportunity for us, may be a part of the business which we can focus on the 'domestic market'. We will see. Those are options we need to look at," Infosys co-chairman S Gopalakrishnan said today.

He was speaking about company's investment plans for their proposed 50-acre campus in Bengal that remained a non-starter due to stand-off concerning SEZ status for over two years.

"After we discuss with the government, we will figure out. We will continue discussion finding other ways and means. Sometimes a breakthrough takes time and in this case, it is clearly taking time," Gopalakrishnan told reporters on the sidelines of the CII annual regional meeting.

The IT major's main revenue still comes from overseas and hence Infosys had been seeking SEZ status for sake of competitiveness.

Gopalakrishnan still believes even with Minimum Alternate Tax, SEZ status will still have an advantage.

"What we have told the Industry Minister (Partha Chatterjee) is that we will come back and discuss with him how we can together take the project forward. The discussion will restart once I come back," Gopalakrishnan said.

He said the company was keen on investment in Bengal and adopting a flexible stand.
Asked what the state was offering as alternate to SEZ, he said, "we will take a look at the proposals together and then take a decision."

Gopalakrishnan said, "You will also have to remember, the industry is going through a period of slow growth and the pressure is not there to expand rapidly at this point."

Asked about West Bengal's stand on land, Gopalakrishnan said: "Different governments have different policies. They (Bengal government) have to decide but having said that it is important they promote industry."

Meanwhile, the state Industry Minister said a delegation was expected to arrive for discussions later.