A stable growth in IT exports has been recorded by the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) from Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at Rs 32,509 crore. This has come as a 24.5 per cent increase over last year, which is notably higher than the tentative national average of 20.65 per cent.

It would be interesting to note that the top performer position was held by the scam-hit Satyam Computer Services Ltd., now known as Mahindra Satyam, with Rs 4,231 crore worth software exports, thereby registering a 27 per cent increase over the previous year.

According to P Venugopal, Director STPI - Hyderabad and DC SEZ (IT/ITES), AP, "The information furnished by the management as of March, 2009 and the figures are likely to change after the accounts are re-audited by December, 2009."

Exports from STPI units last year stood at Rs 26,122 crore. It should be noted that IT services comprised 50 per cent of the total exports in 2009, while BPOs contributed 26 per cent, and the remaining exports coming from enterprise application and others. Venugopal added: "The growth is higher than the national average and exports from the State contribute about 15 per cent to the country's overall software exports."

Surprisingly, AP, with 59 out of the total 350 formally approved units located in the State, has the largest number of IT/ITES SEZs.

Similarly, 39 of the 172 notified SEZs are set up within the State. It should be noted that these SEZs, which would most likely infuse investments worth Rs 16,069.17 crore, together have projected direct employment generation of up to three lakh over the next five years. Twelve out of the 59 approved IT SEZs are already functional.