Bangalore: The new Karnataka Government is focusing its thrust to expand beyond Bangalore the spread of Information Technology and IT enabled services industry by identifying five second tier cities for further growth of the fast growing sector, officials said today (Jul 5, 2004).

"The main focus would be on expanding into secondary cities and we have identified five cities, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga in this regard," IT, BT and Science and Technology Secretary M K Shankaralinge Gowda told reporters at a meet to announce the holding of the seventh edition of Bangalore IT.COM from November 1st to 5th.

He said Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) had earth stations in Mysore, Mangalore, Manipal and Hubli-Dharwad.

"We have to expand the earth station in Mysore and set up new ones in Gulbarga and Belgaum. We have placed the request before the Government," Gowda said, asserting these cities had educational institutions to provide requisite manpower.

STPI Bangalore Director B V Naidu said that the Government would urge multinational firms to set up their captive BPO units in secondary cities to gain the cost advantage besides addressing the high attrition faced by them in big cities.

"Our focus is to spread across Karnataka and brand Bangalore represents the State. Any State needs a brand and Bangalore is one for the State and we are taking advantage," Gowda said.