Cognizant to invest Rs 500 crore to expand Hyderabad facility

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In a major booster for the IT sector in the city, IT major Cognizant on Wednesday announced that it would be investing over Rs 500 crore in expanding its Gachibowli facility in the city to accommodate another 8,000 professionals over the next few years.

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The IT major, which started it Hyderabad operations in 2002 with 180 people, currently employs 18,000 people across five facilities in the city. The Gachibowli campus is the sole facility owned by the company while the rest, spread out in Ameerpet and Hitec City area, are leased.

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With its latest investment, the company will be adding a built-up area of 1.5 million sq ft on its 11-acre Gachibowli campus, which has an existing 2.25 lakh sq ft facility, the company said in a statement.

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Currently, the Hyderabad campus is Cognizant’s primary center for industry aligned business process services.

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Commenting on the expansion plans, Cognizant vice-chairman Lakshmi Narayanan said, “Cognizant’s investment in Hyderabad underscores our commitment to grow our operations in the city and tap into the region’s best-in-class talent. Our Hyderabad center is an important part of our integrated global delivery capability and represents our continued success in hiring the best talent to support our ever expanding range of services, industries, and geographies.” Through its centres in the city, the company provides a host of services like consulting, enterprise applications, IT infrastructure, and business process services to over 300 of its global clients in sectors spanning banking and financial services, insurance, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and life sciences.

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This apart, the company has hired over 8,000 fresh graduates over the past five years from around 20 engineering, management, science, arts and commerce colleges in the region.

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Ratan Tata lauds KCR’s vision. TELANAGANA and GMR get TATA Seal.

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When Tata group patriarch Ratan Tata talks, the world sits up and takes notice. In 2008, when he endorsed Gujarat and its then chief minister Narendra Modi with his famous comment about “a good M and a bad M“ (comparing Modi to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after the Tata group pulled its Nano project out of Singur and moved into Gujarat), he willy-nilly helped boost Gujarat’s image as a preferred investment destination and that of Modi as a man who means business. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, Modi is the Prime Minister and the world has acknowledged Gujarat’s prowess as a top business destination.
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On Friday, it was the turnof Telangana’s first chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and infra major GMR Group’s founding chairman GM Rao, to come in for a strong endorsement from Tata, which is sure to send their brand equity soaring. While he hailed KCR for his `sincerity and commitment’ towards building a new state, he complimented GM Rao for his `pioneering spirit’ in bringing premier Canadian B-school Schulich to Indian shores, among other achievements.

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“I am very pleased to be a part of the Schulich endeavour in having this university, an extension of York, in Hyderabad. What has struck me in this particular case is that while many universities overseas are happy to collaborate in the form of having associate courses in home countries, very few of them are willing to do what this collaboration does, that is to give the students here the same degree as they would have in Canada. That takes a lot of commitment, a lot of sincer ity and a lot of application.
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I, therefore, would like to express, as an Indian, my thanks to York University and to Mr Rao forbringing this to India,“ he said. “Mr Rao hascoveredground usu ally where noroad exists. Ifyou see a wall, Mr Rao sees a door,“ added Tata, who is also on the Schulich India Advisory Council.

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Endorsing the new state, Tata said: “It is a great moment in the new life of the state headed by a very committed and a very sincere CM. One cannot help but feel that you are taking part in the infancy of a new and `potentially prosperous’ state that needs investment in business, investment in education, skills and I am sure that under your leadership, sir, this is going to happen.“

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On the occasion, GMR Group chairman GM Rao too lauded the T government’s efforts to usher in the best single window clearance system in the country that KCR has been promising to unveil as part of the new industrial policy. “The intention to roll out the red carpet for industries by granting them necessary clearances in 30 days speaks volumes of the CM’s leadership,“ he said.

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Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata with Telangana CM KCR

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Telangana CM KCR with Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata

DRDO to Set Up Rs 1,600 Crore Gas Turbine Project in Telangana

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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up a first gas turbine project in the country at Nagarjuna Sagar in Nalgonda district with an estimated cost of Rs 1,600 crore.
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The DRDO officials searched several sites across the country and finally found the the site near NSP suitable for the project. Currently, the DRDO is dependent on gas turbine project in Moscow for its needs.
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Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a meeting with the officials on the proposed gas turbine project here on Wednesday.
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The chief minister said that the Telangana government would allocate 100 acres for the project at Nagarjuna Sagar apaprt from the required water and power to the DRDO, he said.
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Additional land will also be allotted to the DRDO at the same place in future for its research and development operations, the chief minister said.
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Chandrasekhar Rao said that the proposed project will also provide direct and indirect employment to hundreds of people in Telangana.
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The Telangana government has also decided to construct a airstrip for the convenience of officials and tourists, says a release from the CMO.

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Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao discussing with officials at the Secretariat in Hyderabad on 13th Aug 2014 the prospects of establishing a unit of Defence Research & Development Organisation in Telangana

ITC plans to set up a paper manufacturing unit in Telangana

Diversified group ITC , plans to set up a paper manufacturing unit in Telangana with an investment of Rs.3,500 crore.
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The company officials conveyed this to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao during a meeting in Hyderabad on on 14th Juy 2014, said a statement from the chief minister’s office.
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KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, welcomed the decision of the group and said his government would provide adequate land for the plant.
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A delegation of top officials of ITC led by its executive director Pradeep Dhobale met the CM. They also expressed willingness to set up food processing and agro based units and take up eucalyptus plantation over one lakh acres.
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Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik, who also met the Chief Minister, said the company would like to expand its activities in the newly-created state, it said.
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Hinduja Group chairman Ashok Hinduja also called on Mr Rao.

Admission and fee details of Schulich School of Business, Hyderabad

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India is one of the fastest-growing markets for MBA education in the world, a top official of Canada’s Schulich School of Business at York University said on Friday.
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“The fastest-growing markets for MBA education is emerging economies and among them obviously China and India. More so India, with its demography where there is over 50 per cent of population that is below 25 years old,” said Dezso J. Horvath, Dean and Tanna H. Schulich Chair in Strategic Management at the Schulich School of Business, York University.
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Speaking after the opening of the building of the Schulich School of Business set up along with the GMR School of Business in the facility provided by the GMR Group at its airport in Hyderabad, Horvath said: “We are not coming here to compete with Indian business schools. Our focus is on meeting industry needs for globally trained students.”
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The average age of students at the institute is around 29 years with most having five to seven years of work experience. “We have international faculty and we train students for a global marketplace,” Horvath said. He said that the first-year course is taught in India and second year in Toronto.
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Emphasising that the school offers several differentiators, Horvath said, “We also provide a huge amount of specialisation options with 150 electives, 21 different specialisations with many of them in industry sectors which nobody else in the world is delivering such as in mining and soon in agro-business also.”
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Admission to the school is based on work experience and GMAT score, which would be around 670-680 on average. The fees is around Rs 30 lakh for the two years with options for student loans and scholarships for bright students. The first batch was admitted last year and will graduate by the end of April 2015 with 37 students in the batch. The second batch of 46 students has just joined. “We will keep the batch size to not more than 50,” says Horva¡th.
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Horvath said the school in India has an advisory board with leading industry leaders like G.M. Rao, Chairman of GMR Group; Ratan Tata, Chairman-Emeritus of Tata Sons; O.P. Bhatt, for SBI chairman; Bahram Vakil, Founding Partner of AZB & Partners; Uday Kotak, Executive Director and MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank; V. Raghunathan, CEO, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, among others.
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Horvath also said if India enacts a law to allow foreign players to set up own campuses, the Canadian institute will develop a full campus here and deliver the full programme here. “We will bring 50 per cent of students from abroad here and create a global school where half the total students come from all over the world and the rest from India and develop specialisations focused on India like IT.”

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Happening Hyderabad
September 27, 2014

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Canada’s Topnotch Business School ‘Schulich School of Business’ opens campus in Hyderabad

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Canada-based Schulich School of Business, York University has opened its campus in Hyderabad in collaboration with GMR School of Business. The campus was inaugurated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the Aerotropolis (Hyderabad Airport City) being developed by GMR Group around Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad on Friday, 26 September, 2014.

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GMR Group has added yet another feather to its cap with the opening of the Building of Schulich School of Business, York University’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) campus (in a twinning arrangement with GMR School of Business).

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The business school building was officially inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana State, Mr K Chandrasekhar Rao today and Hon’ble Education Minister of the State, Mr G Jagadish Reddy was the Guest of Honour.
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Schulich – a top-ranked business school of Canada – is among the first major foreign institutions to have a significant presence in India under the current The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms.

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Schulich, based out of Toronto in Canada, will initially offer two-year MBA programme in a twinning arrangement, in which the first year of the programme will be offered in India and the second year in Toronto.
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The School also envisages offering Executive Education programmes shortly. It comes as a shot in the arm for GMR Group that has envisioned a comprehensive multi-themed development around the airport. As per the agreement, Schulich is developing the learning environment and academic infrastructure, while the GMR Group has provided the requisite infrastructure.
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The institute is strategically located in the Aerotropolis (Hyderabad Airport City) being developed by GMR Group around Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
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The business school will bring to India the same curriculum that it offers in its home campus, albeit suited to India consistent with current international trends, practices and pedagogy which stands as hallmark of Schulich’s training.
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Speaking on the occasion, Mr. G.M. Rao, Group Chairman – GMR Group, has expressed happiness and pride in associating with the internationally renowned Schulich School of Business. “It has been GMR Group’s endeavour to transform RGIA and its vicinity into an integrated ecosystem of economic activities. The establishment of Schulich School of Business heralds the beginning of a new chapter in management education in India in the serene vistas of an international airport. I am confident that the school will provide top-class management education to the students. From GMR, we assure complete and the best of support on all fronts. I wish the first batch of students good luck,” Mr Rao mentioned.
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It also plans to offer executive education programmes. “I am confident that the school will provide top-class management education to the students. From GMR, we assure complete and the best of support on all fronts,’’ GM Rao, Chairman of GMR Group, said.
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Mr. G.M. Rao, Group Chairman, GMR Group; Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons; Mr. O.P. Bhatt, Independent Director, Tata Steel Ltd; Mr. Bahram Vakil, Founding Partner, AZB & Partners; Mr. Uday Kotak, Executive Director & MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd; Dr. Dezsö J Horváth, Dean-Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada; Mr. R.K. Krishna Kumar, Trustee, Tata Trusts; Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri, President & Vice-Chancellor, York University, Canada; Dr. V. Raghunathan, CEO, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, Students of the business school and other dignitaries also graced on the occasion.

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Happening Hyderabad
September 27, 2014

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Hyderabad to be Equipped with 4G WiFi by December 2014

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If everything goes according to plan, Hyderabad is all set to be a 4G Wi-Fi enabled city by the year end.
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The 4G WiFi services will be available in western Hyderabad by September and for the entire city by December end. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed the officials to make arrangements for the same.

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Speaking at a review meeting with officials on ‘Hyderabad 4G WiFi City’ at the Secretariat on Thursday, KCR directed them to develop digital broadband infrastructure in Hyderabad. IT minister KT Rama Rao and representatives of Reliance, which will provide the services, were present in the meeting.

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Reliance state CEO KS Venugopal and coordinator PVL Madhava Rao explained to KCR the progress on the works of WiFi services in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana.
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As part of the first phase, 4G services will be made available in six corporations, 37 municipalities across the state apart from Hyderabad. In the second phase, all other cities, towns and 220 mandal headquarters will be provided with the services. The entire state would be made WiFi enabled by the third phase.

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The chief minsiter felt that 4G services would support the government’s efforts to improve the brand image of Hyderabad internationally. The representatives of Reliance assured the chief minister of meeting the deadlines. They said around 4,100 crore were being spent for providing WiFi services in Telangana.

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Reliance is laying 1,700 km long OFC lines in Hyderabad as part of the project. Lines have been laid for 500 km so far.
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Phase-wise WiFi

> 37 municipalities, 6 corporations to get 4G in phase I

> Phase II to cover other cities, towns and 220 mandal HQs

> Entire state to have WiFi by end of phase III

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Happening Hyderabad
18 July 2014

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Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR), Hyderabad

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Government of India has approved the proposal to set up an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) near Hyderabad which envisages spending of about Rs. 2.19 lakh crore and generation of nearly 15 lakh direct jobs.
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of ITIR near Hyderabad. the total investment for the
ITIR will be about Rs. 2.19 lakh crore on September 20, 2013.
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Of the total investment, the IT/ITeS sector is to attract investments of Rs. 1.18 lakh crore and the electronic hardware
manufacturing (EHM) sector of Rs. 1.01 lakh crore, according to an official release.The ITIR is expected to generate direct employment of 14.8 lakh and indirect employment of 55.9 lakh, it added. The major investments will be from public-private partnerships.
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“Government of India has also proposed upgradation of three radial roads and extension of the metro rail from Falaknuma to
Shamshabad international airport at total cost of Rs. 3,275 crore,” it said.
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The Telangana government has delineated an area of 202 sq km for the proposed ITIR in three clusters – Cyberabad
Development Area and its surroundings, Hyderabad Airport Development area and Maheshwaram in the south of Hyderabad and Uppal and Pocharam areas in eastern Hyderabad.
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The ITIR will be implemented in two phases. Phase I will from 2013 to 2018 and Phase II will be from 2018 to 2038, the
statement said. It is expected to develop into a key industrial region for IT, ITeS and electronic hardware manufacturing sectors.Special consideration will be given to accommodate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the proposed ITIR.
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Telangana contributes 12.4 per cent of the total IT exports of the country and ranks 4th in IT performance in the country. During the 2011-2012 fiscal, the state’s IT sector reported a total (domestic and export) turnover of Rs. 53,246 crore, of which exports (STPI stood at Rs. 28,948 crore and SEZ Rs. 11,698 crore), while domestic sector reported a turnover of Rs. 12,600 crore.
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The CCEA had approved a policy resolution to set up ITIRs in different states to promote investment in IT/ITeS and
electronic manufacturing sector.
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As per the policy, Central Government will provide the necessary viability gap funding for external physical
infrastructure through existing schemes. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) is the nodal department to process proposals relating to setting up of ITIRs.

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Happening Hyderabad
20 Sept 2013

Wipro chairman Azim Premji meets Telangana CM KCR, Naidu, discusses expansion

Wipro chairman Azim Premji meets Telangana CM KCR, discusses expansion
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Wipro chairman Azim Premji with Telangana CM KCR and IT & PanchayatRaj Minister KTR

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Wipro chairman Azim Premji met Telangana Chief Minister and discussed his company’s expansion plans in the Telanagana state.
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Premji told K Chandrashekar Rao about his company’s planned expansion in Telangana to which the latter is said to have responded positively. KCR in turn said that in the near future, several IT parks would come up in Telangana. He also highlighted his government’s plan of making Hyderabad a 4G enabled city and said that he would have another round of discussions with Premji when his government finalises the industrial policy.

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Premji congratulated KCR for achieving Telangana state and forming the government. Premji told the Chief Minister that besides the existing Wipro units in Hyderabad, the company will come up with more proposals for expansion

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KCR also informed Premji about his government’s initiatives in IT and other industrial sectors, especially about the corruption-free single window clearance system and a chasing cell and has assured that Telangana would be made an attractive destination for investments by both national and international companies.

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Wipro chairman Azim Premji with Harish Rao, Minister for Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji with Telangana CM KCR

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Happening Hyderabad
27 July 2014

Birla Meets KCR, to Invest Heavily in Telangana

Chairman CK Birla of the Birla group of companies meeting Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao

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Chairman of the CK Birla group of companies CK Birla called on Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the Secretariat on Saturday, 20th July 2014. He evinced a keen interest in investing in health care, cement and other sectors in the state. The Birla group chairman expressed satisfaction over the proposed industrial policy of the state and said it would be among the best in the country. The company’s managing director Deepak Khterapal also accompanied the business magnate.
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During the meeting, Birla recalled his company’s association with Hyderabad and informed the chief minister about his interest in expanding his cement business in Telangana. “We are also planning to invest huge amounts of money in the health care and health care education sector,” Birla said and sought the cooperation of the government for the same.
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The chief minister responded in a positive way to their plans and said the government would bring about a industry-friendly policy which would be simplified to prevent hindrances for lower level industrialists.
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“Around 2.5 lakh acres of land, which are useful for industrial purpose, will be given to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC),” he said and added that the government will take all initiatives to grant permissions to industries. KCR said the single window and chasing cell at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) will be the best in the country and will aid in the speedy clearance of files relating to investments.
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“The required permissions will be given to the concerned persons within two-three weeks,” the chief minister assured the industrialist and added that the process of granting permissions would be corruption-free. KCR also told the two-member delegation that the government would develop an industrial park like the one in China. Sources said that Birla evinced keen interest and expressed satisfaction over the explanation of the government’s industrial policy. Birla also said all industrialists were keen to make heavy investments in the state.

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Chairman CK Birla of the Birla group of companies meeting Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the Secretariat in Hyderabad

Chairman CK Birla and managing director Deepak of the Birla group of companies meeting Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao

Chairman CK Birla and managing director Deepak of the Birla group of companies meeting Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the Secretariat in Hyderabad

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Happening Hyderabad
20th July 2014

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