"Mahindra World City Jaipur has so far signed up 20 premier IT/ITeS clients"

The Rajasthan government has given a powerful thrust to IT and ITeS business implementation in the state by curating a very favorable environment through its policies for investors. The state’s investor friendly IT and ITeS Policy 2015 which aims at achieving its goals by year 2050 has opened a gateway of opportunities for the ICT sector. Envisioning the opportunity with great potential, Mahindra World City (MWC), Jaipur has taken the task of building a single point global business destination in partnership with the Rajasthan Government.

In a conversation with Dataquest, Sanjay Srivastava, Business Head, Mahindra World City (MWC), Jaipur spoke on MWC’s initiatives and contributions towards developing a leading smart city with modern communication infrastructure. Excerpts:

Jaipur being in the list of first 20 smart cities, what is MWC doing to attract and include IT companies and start-ups in the development process?

Right from its very inception, Mahindra World City (MWC), Jaipur has recognised and leveraged the strong growth potential of the IT/ITeS sector in Rajasthan, given the state’s natural competencies and a policy ecosystem that is conducive to technology-driven, innovation-led inclusive growth.

IT/ITES is a priority industry segment for MWC Jaipur, which had signed up Infosys and Deutsche Bank as its first clients. Today, it has already has signed up 20 premier IT/ ITES clients, of which 13 are already operational. It has attracted several leading global and Indian companies into its IT/ITeS SEZ, including multinationals such as Deutsche Bank, EXL Services, Genpact, MetLifeand Appirio, along with leading Indian companies such as Infosys, Wipro and Nagarro Software and more.

Our IT/ITeS customers have chosen MWC Jaipur for its strategic location advantages, industrial infrastructure and Plug & Play facilities.  The availability of developed land parcels, optic fiber cable network, quality satellite linkage as well as voice and data solutions bolster operational efficiencies, allowing customers to focus on core business areas.  Evolve, the 25-acre GnNxt IT Park is located in MWC Jaipur’s IT/ITeS SEZ.  Businesses can seamlessly enhance their operations here.

For your campuses, do you find big IT and software companies or mid-sized and small start-ups more interested?

Mahindra World City, Jaipur is a diverse industrial ecosystem, with representation from companies straddling geographies, industries, sectors and size/scope.  Hence MWC Jaipur evinces interest from big as well as small & mid-size companies.  At one end of the segment, we have major IT/ITeS clients like Infosys, Deutsche Bank, MetLife, Genpact, and EXL, among others.  At the same time, we are also the business destination of choice for companies like Tweaking Technologies, Girnar Software, Metacube, iSys, etc., who have started small, but have considerably scaled up operations, with MWC Jaipur enabling their global aspirations.

Do you come across any common questions or needs of the IT companies?

Some common needs which we come across from IT companies are provision of well-developed core infrastructure, skilled manpower availability, comfortable connectivity options and sustainable and inclusive development. We address these requirements by providing flexible and truly plug-n-play infrastructure. And as MWC Jaipur is strategically located just off NH-8 Jaipur Ajmer highway while being within Jaipur city limits, this offers convenient options for employees’ commute, in addition to companies’ dedicated transportation facilities.

As far as sustainable development is concerned, MWC Jaipur is Asia’s first and the world’s largest project to reach the C40 Climate Positive Development Program Stage 2 milestone. It is also India’s first IGBC Gold pre-certified SEZ. In addition, we are ensuring an inclusive development by focusing on CSR initiatives which help local communities and the environment. Many of our customers are active collaborators in these initiatives.

As demonetization has affected every industry, cash crunch has hit the real estate industry too. How much has it affected MWC?

As all our customers and prospects for industrial land are B2B organisations/companies who seek clear land titles with all approvals in place, we expect a positive impact in the long term with potentially lower interest rates, etc.  However, given the current impact on consumption trends across industries, we might witness a temporary slowdown in the short term, in the form of longer decision-making cycles by prospects.

What are MWC's future plans for smart cities, both within and beyond Jaipur?

MWC Jaipur has encapsulated a very comprehensive vision of a smart city, extending even beyond technology enablement.  Some prominent aspects of these smart city plans include MWC Jaipur’s C40 roadmap which will ensure that the integrated business city will be Carbon-Neutral to Carbon-Positive.  In the first phase, we have already implemented 210 KW solar rooftop, 100% use of LED lamps, and more.

The water requirement in the city is designed in a way so as to leverage maximum water recycling.  In the long term, over 66% of MWC Jaipur’s water requirements will be met through grey water recycling.

Whereas, various smart technology initiatives such as Smart Street Lighting, Parking, Waste Management, Integrated Building Energy Management System, Smart Metering, Integrated Security & Surveillance are already implemented in phases.