Chandigarh, Dec 10 (IANS) Software exports from the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park here have increased 22.5 percent in the first half in 2009-10, compared to the corresponding period last year, a senior official said Thursday.
According to records, software exports from the technology park during April-September stood at Rs.351.74 crore (Rs.3.5 billion) against Rs.287.16 crore (Rs.2.8 billion) in the year-ago period.

“At the same time, exports from IT units outside this park have also increased, by 16.3 percent in the first half of 2009-10,” said Manjit Brar, director of information technology (IT), Chandigarh.

“Total software exports from Chandigarh stood at Rs.401.17 crore in the first half against Rs.329.67 crore in the corresponding period of last year.”

In 2008-09, total software exports from Chandigarh had scaled to Rs.750 crore from Rs.504 crore the year before, an increase of 48 percent.

According to Chandigarh IT Secretary Sanjay Kumar, more than 32,700 jobs will be created after completion of the first two phases of the technology park.

“Phase three will involve an investment of Rs.2,500 crore and will provide jobs to about 35,000 people,” he added.

Currently, about 10,000 professionals work at the technology park, which has attracted investments of about Rs.1,000 crore.

“The Chandigarh administration hopes that total software exports from the park will cross Rs.4,500 crore by the end of 2011,” Kumar added.

Apart from Chandigarh, software exports from the twin town of Mohali are also on the rise.