Exclusive UK Zone, ‘Startup Hostels’, Incentives: Maharashtra Rolls Out The Red Carpet For British Tech Companies At LTW 2023 – News18

With the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak making main tech-business associated bulletins on the nation’s largest know-how occasion– London Tech Week 2023, just one state authorities delegation from India attended it: Maharashtra authorities.

The Maharashtra authorities delegation at London Tech Week 2023 was headed by cupboard minister Uday Samant, who’s presently in command of industries. This delegation was actively seen internet hosting conferences with key stakeholders and business gamers within the UK to draw investments to India. It additionally introduced Maharashtra’s new IT coverage with distinctive consideration to infrastructure and talent improvement.

This delegation had their priorities clearly set: entice UK-based tech companies to Maharashtra by providing them tangible incentives, entry to India’s diversified IT expertise, upgraded infrastructure and nurture startups.

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The bigger objective for Maharashtra is to increase its personal ‘silicon valley’ by pitching itself as a extra aggressive vacation spot in comparison with Bengaluru, the place property rents have soared over time and infrastructure bottlenecks are actually turning into a severe hindrance. The delegation promoted areas like Pune, Greater Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Wardha amongst others.

Along with minister Uday Samant, the CEO of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Dr. Vipin Sharma and Deepender Singh Kushwah, Development Commissioner (Industries) & Export Commissioner of Maharashtra authorities careworn on the significance of key infrastructure improvement within the state just like the 700 km Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway (Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg) which is able to cut back the journey time between Mumbai and Nagpur from 16 hours to eight hours.

What’s fascinating is that this expressway connects key districts which have the potential to change into India’s subsequent massive industrial hall. MIDC CEO mentioned that the state authorities is taking a look at creating ‘nodes’ alongside this expressway and are keen to dedicate unique areas to membership collectively totally different corporations from the identical international nation. Two such nodes that the state authorities is selling are AURIC (Aurangabad) and Dighi (Raigad).

“We understand the comfort of doing business in a foreign land with familiar people surrounding you. We are ready to dedicate an exclusive ‘UK zone’ along the corridor where all UK-based companies can operate together. Not just the UK, even companies from South Korea or Japan or others can have their own industrial zone,” mentioned Dr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, MIDC.

“The Maharashtra government is ready to deliver all possible support for companies who are eager to open facilities in India. Majority of the UK-based companies who have their presence in India are operating from Maharashtra. Prominent UK-based IT companies like BT, Vodafone, Revolut, Barclays, Colt, ARK among others are already in Maharashtra and we are taking this opportunity at London Tech Week to welcome more British companies to India,” mentioned Deepender Singh Kushwah, Development Commissioner (Industries) & Export Commissioner of Maharashtra authorities.

Key features of Maharashtra’s new IT Policy introduced in 2023

In order to gasoline this IT hall in Maharashtra, the delegation additionally shared plans to supply quick access to India’s IT expertise. One idea that was highlighted was the creation of ‘startup hostels’. This will assist early startups to save cash on workplace leases and lodging and deal with product improvement.

The delegation defined this as a “Walk to Work” initiative the place there might be a leisure of eligibility (60:40/ 50:50) standards and house utilisation norms to help the workforce of the longer term and permit for built-in working, dwelling and social areas.

“We will also allow IT units to have the flexibility to work 24X7, decongest urban centres through Walk to Work complexes and support talent creation in growth hubs of the state,” added Kushwah.

The authorities will arrange the Maharashtra Hub (MHub), an initiative to advertise innovation in Emerging Technologies & set up the state as a data led economic system together with a fund of Rs 500 crore.

“A Chief Operating Officer (COO) under M-Hub will be appointed as the Technology Ambassador of Maharashtra to drive the policy and performance mandate,” added Dr. Sharma.

The state authorities can also be specializing in creating Maharashtra Information Technology Interface (MAHITI), a Single window system for end-to-end help for all IT items Supporting current faculties, talent institutes and coaching centres to launch competitions & hackathons in Maharashtra and supply a platform for expertise development.

The Indian IT business is generally perceived as a backend help and companies phase however the authorities is aiming to vary that. It might be selling ‘Super Specialised’ job roles in fields like AI analysis scientists, resolution architects, Data scientists, Optical scientists, embedded, options engineers and many others.

In order to advertise future expertise, the state authorities mentioned that there might be Nationally aggressive incentives to the AVGC and Emerging Technologies sectors.