Karnataka STPI units record export worth Rs 36,459 crores during Covid-19 lockdown

While India's economy is under tremendous pressure due to Covid-induced lockdowns, Karnataka’s IT industry has some positive news.

The industry has managed to stay afloat, during the Covid-19 lockdown, with its STPI units exporting Rs 36,459 crores over a three-month period.

Speaking on the occasion of 29th STPI foundation day celebrations, Dr Omkar Rai, DG STPI, said that STPI was the first organization to enable work from home facility to its member units well before the national lockdown was declared during the COVID-19 period.

To help start-ups during the Covid-19 lockdown to remain afloat, the government has waived-off rentals for start-ups operating out of the STPI for a period of four months from 1st March 2020 to 30th June 2020. 18 start-ups in Karnataka have therefore benefited from this, says STPI.

STPI-Bengaluru is also in the process of setting up Atal Incubation Centre focusing on healthcare domain, supported by NITI Aayog, Govt of India. The centre will be mentored by renowned cardiologist Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, who will guide startups at the Atal Incubation Centre. The centre will help start-ups to bring new technological solutions in the healthcare domain.

STPI celebrated its 29th foundation day on 5th June 2020 and while delivering the inaugural address, Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, MeitY, Govt of India said, “STPI has a huge role to play in meeting the goal of National Policy on Software Products and Electronic Manufacturing Cluster( EMC) 2.0."

In Karnataka, STPI-Bengaluru centre was set up in the year 1991 & today it has 4 sub-centres (Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Manipal) under its jurisdiction. Exports from Karnataka has seen a growth from Rs 5.6 crore in 1991-92 to Rs 174894 crores in 2018-19, which is 41% of the total current National Exports. The units of STPI have generated employment of 6.84 lakh.

Today, the US$ 191 billion IT industry, comprising around 18,000 plus firms that directly employ 4.14 million-strong workforce, that contributes 7.7% of GDP is a testimony to the STPI’s resolute in transforming Indian IT industry into a global outsourcing destination for software exports. Another feather to this cap is that exports clocked by STP registered units stand at Rs 4,21,103 crores during 2018-19, said Dr Rai.