The Kerala government will soon launch an IT infrastructure company, said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.

"In the next financial year, a sum of Rs.500 million would be set aside for this company. The government will hold 51% share and the rest will be given out to private and public companies," he said.

Elaborating on the new project, Joseph Mathew, IT advisor to Achuthanandan, said that the concept was simple -- the state making some profits and not just facilitating the industry.

"A mere facilitating role does not bring in rewards to the government. So we decided that if we have a company, we can also make profit, similar to what the Dubai Internet City (DIC) is doing through its Smart City project at Kochi," said Mathew.

The Technopark campus here and Infopark campus at Kochi are both registered under the Charitable Societies Act, which prevents them from booking profits.

The proposed company would be on the lines of the state's first airport at Kochi built through a private-public partnership.

"We envisage an IT development programme that is spread across the state and not just concentrating at few cities. And it is here that the company's role would be significant. Like DIC, this new company would take up the role of developing IT infrastructure across the state," added Mathew.

IANS