DW BUREAU / Mohali Mohali which is rapidly developing into the next big IT hub in the State and the strong presence of IT giants such as Infosys, Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Quark city, Bestech Towers is a testimony to the city's growing stature as a leading player in the IT sector at global level. This was disclosed here today by Principal Secretary Investment Promotion, Industries & Commerce and IT Alok Shekhar during his visit to the Infosys campus and was apprised about the expansion plans of Infosys at IT City Mohali. Elaborating on the initiatives to give push to the IT sector, the Principal Secretary said that the Punjab government is offering plots to the prospective players in IT/ITES sector in IT City at Mohali through GMADA which is having state of the art facilities with integrated world class infrastructure. Besides, IT City is very strategically located in close proximity to the International Airport, Mohali and surrounded by existing Aerocity, World Trade Centre, leading Research & Academic Institutes, said Principal Secretary who further added that the presence of leading institutes of India in the region like IIT Ropar, Indian School of Business, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) is helping Mohali develop into a modern Innovation/Technical Hub of Punjab. Pointing out further, he said that IT/ITeS sector has risen substantially during the financial year 2019-20 and has touched approx Rs. 600 Crore as against Rs. 345 Crore in FY 2018-19 and Rs. 120 Crore in 2017-18. i.e. approx. 500 percent increase in investment in IT/ESDM sector in FY 19-20 as compared to FY 17-18. Punjab has a strong IT/ITeS/Electronic manufacturing conducive ecosystem with presence of 250 IT/ITes companies working in emerging technologies such Big data, AI, Machine Learning, Exoskeleton, DevOps Consulting, Data Warehousing, XD Design Studio, Preventive & Assistive Technology for Healthcare, fab manufacturing, telecom equipment, electronic testing labs, state of the art SMT manufacturing lines, revealed Principal Secretary. (editor@dailyworld.in)