Infy says SEZ tag not imp; welcomes alternative sops

IT major Infosys is open to considering an alternative model with associated SEZ-like benefits for its maiden campus in West Bengal, according to a top company official.

"It is not necessary that the SEZ tag is important for us. We are ready to accept any other alternative avenue of the associated SEZ benefits are given," Infosys Executive Vice-Chairman S (Kris) Gopalakrishnan said here today.

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In a SEZ (Special Economic Zone), tax credits are given to units which was 100 per cent for the first five years, 50 per cent for the next five years and 50 per cent for the remaining period, he told reporters. Infosys was allotted 50 acres by the state government at Rajarhat near the metropolis. However, the unit is yet to come up because the government was not keen on granting the SEZ status as sought by the company.

"There are places where these benefits are given through SEZs. Any government will like to attract investments. There could be other options. It is up to to the state government to figure out that," Gopalakrishnan said. Besides Infosys, Wipro was also stuck on the similar issue for its second unit also at Rajarhat.

"It is a competitive environment, one should understand that," he said.  Referring to contentious land issue, he said that big projects required huge tracts of land. "In this regard, the state governments has a role to play," he said.  "I hope the West Bengal government will be able to address the issue. Ultimately, land has to be acquired for large projects", he said.