ABOUT STPI SILIGURI:
STPI Siliguri center was established in the year 2006 with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting software exports from Tier-II city (Siliguri region) of West Bengal. The center has infrastructure and manpower to provide STP/EHTP statutory services, Incubation services, Datacom services, NOC operations and PMC activities. Siliguri being a trade as well as an educational hub has great potential to become IT hub in the state of West Bengal.
ABOUT SILIGURI:
Siliguri is situated at the base of the Himalaya mountains in the plains of Darjeeling District by the side of River Mahananda. It is the 2nd largest city in West Bengal and known as the gateway of North-Eastern India. It is also the commercial capital of the region. Siliguri is very strategically located to ratchet up not only the local economic growth, but also that of the entire North-Eastern region of India.
Infrastructure:
Siliguri, also known as tier II City has inherent advantages such as physical connectivity, land availability and cost, urban and social infrastructure and level of private sector interest.
It is also the transit point for air, road and rail traffic to the neighboring countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Bagdogra airport, situated about 12 km away is the closest airport. The airport is well connected to most Indian cities including the state capital Kolkata. Siliguri is also well connected through Railway and bus. It is the commercial nerve centre of North Bengal.
Education:
Due to the inherent importance of Siliguri as the centrally located and largest town in the Sikkim-Darjeeling region, large number of students flock here for higher education. There are a number of universities and colleges around Siliguri few of them are University of North Bengal, North Bengal Medical college, Siliguri Institute of Technology, ICFAI university, IIAS School of Business and Informatics, Siliguri college, Siliguri Mahila Mahavidyalaya (Women's College) etc.
Economy in Siliguri:
Siliguri is described as the gateway to the North East of India. The strategic location of the city makes it a base for essential supplies to the region. Siliguri has gradually developed as a profitable centre for a variety of businesses. As a central hub, many national companies and organizations have set up their offices here. Tea, Timber, Tourism and Transport i.e 4 “T” s are the main businesses of Siliguri. Siliguri is the headquarter of FOCIN (Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of North Bengal).
Siliguri and Information Technology:
Siliguri is one of the three satellite IT hub and township that the Government is developing. Dust free and cool regions of Siliguri could be utilized for promotion of Electronic and Software Industry. Leading companies have shown interest and some of them have already started operating. Siliguri have been identified as city that can emerge as preferred destinations for software development and BPO/Call Center companies. Siliguri is capable to attract a large number of Indian and international IT/ITeS firms. Siliguri enjoys an edge over other places since it has an abundance of English-speaking workers. Such candidates suit the job profile of BPO/Call centers.
IT Development at Siliguri:
Siliguri is fast emerging as an IT hub, the alternative destination to Kolkata for InfoTech companies. Siliguri already have good infrastructure and modern amenities for people who work in the IT parks. Some major IT companies have started working in Siliguri and more will be heading there soon.
Advantage Siliguri
- Excellent Educational city, providing quality manpower to the IT/ITES Industry.
- Excellent climate and good living standards.
- City with famous Tourist places in and around.
- Good number of Educational Institutes
- Great Mixture of traditional and cosmopolitan culture.
SERVICES OF STPI SILIGURI
A. Statutory Services:
Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme
The Software Technology Park Scheme (STP) is a 100% export-oriented scheme for software development and IT enabled services through data communication link or physical medium. STP scheme was introduced to give impetus to the software industry in concrete manner andfor providing conducive environment to the industry to conduct the business at pace commensurate with international practices.
The scheme integrates the government concept of 100 percent Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and that of Science Parks/Technology Parks, as operating elsewhere in the world.
Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme
Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) is a 100% export oriented scheme for manufacture of Electronic Hardware. Companies undertaking to export their entire production of goods and services may be set up under EHTP scheme. Companies engaged in manufacture of electronic goods and services can register to avail the benefits of this scheme.
STP and EHTP Scheme Benefits & Highlights:
- A company can set up STP/EHTP unit anywhere in India.
- 100% Foreign Equity is permitted.
- Approvals are given under single window clearance mechanism.
- Duty free import of goods, raw materials (EHTP) & Software are permitted.
- Import of second hand capital goods is also permitted.
- Re-Export of imported goods is permitted.
- Simplified Minimum Export Performance norms of “Positive Net Foreign Exchange Earnings (positive NFE)” over a period of five years.
- STP/EHTP units may also use all duty free equipment / goods for training purpose (including commercial training), subject to condition that no duty free equipment / goods shall be installed outside bonded premises for this purpose.
- Sales in Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) are permissible.
- Computers and computer’s peripherals may be donated to recognized institutions of India without payment of any duties after two years of their import.
- Depreciation up to 100% is permissible for Computers and Computer peripherals in 5 years and 10 years in case of other items.
Certification of Software Exports
Software Companies, which do not wish to avail the benefit of STP scheme, may get registered with STPI for the certification of Software Exports. On registration, certificate is issued to the company with the validity of three years during which they can get their Software Exports certified by STPI. The same may be renewed further for the period of three years at a time.
B. Incubation Services
STPI Siliguri center has state-of-the-art Incubation Facility to encourage Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to promote and motivate entrepreneurs in the field of IT/ITES in this region.
Facilities available at STPI-Siliguri Incubation Center
- STPI - Siliguri has two incubation rooms
- Total 32 nos. Plug-n-Play seats available
- 24hour high speed leased line connectivity
- Switched Local Area Network
- Fully air-conditioned rooms
- Parallel UPS-System of adequate capacity for uninterrupted power supply
- Backup power supply through DG-Set
- Conference room facility with 10 seats, available on request
- 24 hours physical security
- 24 hour CCTV surveillance
C. SoftLINK Services
SoftLINK is an internet service developed specially to cater to the needs of the IT industry. The Internet represents one of the most successful examples of the benefits of sustained investment and commitment to research and development of information infrastructure.
SoftLINK is a service offering Leased Internet access having its own Quality of Service Parameters. This service was launched to cater to the rising needs of the industry for quality and committed service. SoftLINK Services have found a large customer base.
STPI offers high-speed Internet Leased Line Service at competitive rates. This service has been catering the needs of the IT industry and provides high-speed, dedicated Internet access with quality and reliability. 24*7*365 technical support, handled by a well-qualified technical team. Online bandwidth statistics allow Customers to monitor the usage and help them forecast future requirements. Service Level Agreement (SLA) for its internet network guarantees uptime of more than 99.5%.
Benefits
- Network Redundancy at all levels (ie., last mile, router, switch and connectivity to Internet gateway on transmission level)
- Robust Network with multi-homed gateway
- IPv6 compliance
- 24x7x365 technical support, handled by well-qualified technical team
- Online bandwidth statistics to monitor the usage and enable customer to forecast future requirements
- Service Level Agreement (SLA) uptime of more than 99.5%
- Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) service for the existing Internet Leased Line Service customers
