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Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu

Overview

The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (ELCOT) is a public sector undertaking owned by the Government of Tamil Nadu. It functions as the nodal agency of the state government for the promotion and development of the electronics, information technology and information technology enabled services (IT/ITeS) sectors. ELCOT plays a central role in the establishment and management of IT parks and special economic zones across Tamil Nadu, and in the implementation of e-governance and IT procurement initiatives for state government departments.

Key facts

Name Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited
Short name ELCOT
Type State public sector undertaking
Owner Government of Tamil Nadu
Administrative department Information Technology Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
Headquarters Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Sector Electronics, Information Technology, ITeS

Background

ELCOT was constituted as a wholly owned company of the Government of Tamil Nadu to implement the state's policies in electronics and information technology. Over the years, its mandate has evolved from electronics manufacturing promotion to a broader role focused on IT infrastructure, software exports, and digital governance. It operates under the administrative control of the Information Technology Department of the state government.

Functions and activities

ELCOT undertakes a range of activities aimed at expanding the IT and electronics ecosystem in Tamil Nadu. Its principal functions include:

  • Development and management of IT parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for IT/ITeS companies in cities and Tier-II locations across the state.
  • Acting as the consolidated procurement agency for computer hardware, software and related IT services required by Government of Tamil Nadu departments and agencies.
  • Implementing and supporting e-governance projects of the state government.
  • Facilitating investment in the electronics and IT sectors by liaising with industry, central agencies and investors.

IT parks and SEZs

ELCOT has been associated with the establishment of IT/ITeS Special Economic Zones in several locations in Tamil Nadu, with a deliberate focus on extending IT-led development beyond Chennai to Tier-II cities. Locations where ELCOT has developed or supported IT parks include:

  • Sholinganallur (Chennai)
  • Coimbatore
  • Madurai
  • Tiruchirappalli
  • Tirunelveli
  • Salem
  • Hosur

These campuses house Indian and multinational IT companies and contribute to the state's software exports and IT employment.

Significance

As the implementing arm of the Tamil Nadu government's IT policy, ELCOT is a significant institution in the state's emergence as one of India's leading destinations for IT services and electronics. Its dual role as an infrastructure developer and as a centralised IT procurement agency makes it a key interface between the government and the technology industry, and an important vehicle for spreading IT employment beyond the Chennai metropolitan region.

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