Government to promote co-working space concept for setting up IT firms in Puducherry

Puducherry government plans to convert unused buildings into co-working spaces for IT firms, promoting entrepreneurship and tourism.

The Public Works Department has been asked to develop unused government buildings as co-working space for entrepreneurs to set up IT firms in Puducherry, PWD Minister K. Lakshminarayanan said here on Friday.

Inaugurating a two-day exhibition, IndEx- 2024, of the Confederation of Indian Industry at Suganya Convention Centre, the Minister said the government wanted to promote the concept of co-working space to encourage entrepreneurs to set up software development firms in Puducherry.

“Even though we don’t have any major IT parks in Puducherry, we have a number of small software companies. A recent assessment by the government revealed that there are 160 software firms functioning in Puducherry. These firms provide employment to several graduates, and so we want to encourage such ventures. There are many unused government buildings that could be utilised to promote the co-working model, he said. 

IndEX- 2024 is a platform for industries in Puducherry to showcase their manufacturing potential. Assuring the CII members of all assistance in promoting Puducherry as an industry-friendly destination, the Minister, who also holds the IT and Tourism portfolios, said the government was in the process of bringing in a legislation to make the setting up of industries, an easy task. The government has submitted a draft of the Pondicherry Ease of Doing Business (Services Delivery) Bill, 2022 to the Centre for approval, prior to placing it before the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Lakshminarayanan said. 

As far tourism sector was concerned, the Minister said the Union Territory had witnessed 40% increase in tourist arrival. “The average days spent by tourists in Puducherry has gone up to two and a half days in recent times. We are targeting 30 lakh tourists to visit Puducherry by 2030 and for that we are in the process of implementing several tourism projects besides improving infrastructure,” Mr. Lakshminarayanan added. 

The project report for construction of a grade separator connecting Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi squares was being reworked to make certain changes in the alignment for re-submission to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for approval. The government was also taking steps to widen the Cuddalore-Puducherry Road, the Minister said. 

Indirectly referring to the criticism against the government, Mr. Lakshminarayanan said, “Let those spreading negative atmosphere in Puducherry continue to do so, but the government will move ahead with its work for the betterment of the people and the development of the Union Territory.”