Hyderabad, Mar 13 (Reporter) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday inaugurated the Hyderabad activities of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) and stressed on the importance of technology for socio-economic development. Telangana IT and Industry Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for Industries and IT, Govt. of Telangana, and Dr Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Special Secretary (Investment Promotion & External Engagement) Government of Telangana were also present on the occasion. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NIELIT and Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) for the set-up of the first centre in Telangana. In January 2024, the Government of India’s Working Group on Electronics, Communication, and Information Technology (ECIT) approved the set-up of NIELIT, and a financial outlay was made for the next 3 years to commence operations immediately. Approximately 11,000 sq. ft. of built-up space has been identified in Begumpet for the NIELIT Centre in Hyderabad. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Kishan Reddy noted that the inauguration marks a pivotal moment in fostering innovation and growth in Electronics and Information Technology. He stressed on the importance of technology for socio-economic development and empowering youth with digital-age skills. He commended the collaborative efforts between central and state governments and expressed confidence in the NIELIT Centre's potential to drive skill development, innovation, and employment opportunities in IECT. Duddilla Sridhar Babu, highlighted the state government's commitment to promoting the IT sector and creating avenues for skill development and employment generation. He praised the establishment of the NIELIT Centre as a significant step toward achieving these objectives. The MoU between NIELIT and TASK was signed and exchanged on the occasion by K S Lalmohan, Director, NIELIT, and Shrikant Sinha, CEO, TASK, Government of Telangana. As the NIELIT Centre activities are inaugurated in Hyderabad, it marks a significant milestone in the journey towards realizing the vision of a digitally empowered society and fostering inclusive growth and development. The collaboration with TASK aims to enhance the ecosystem by providing resources, mentorship, and support to aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. The synergy seeks to catalyze the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hyderabad and beyond through incubation programs, workshops, networking events, and access to funding opportunities. The NIELIT Hyderabad Centre aims to bolster the vibrant start-up ecosystem in Hyderabad and Telangana by providing targeted support to future tech entrepreneurs. Leveraging NIELIT’s experience from incubating 25+ start-ups across 21+ centres in the North East, it offers incubation, mentorship, and collaboration networks. NIELIT aims to provide skill training to at least 3,000-5,000 people through this centre in the next 3 years. The Director General of NIELIT wrote letters in 2019 requesting space in Hyderabad, and after continuous efforts, a building was identified for the NIELIT Centre. The 7th Meeting of the Working Group on ECIT in January 2024 approved the set-up of NIELIT centres in Secunderabad and Tirupati, with financial support for the next 3 years. The Tirupati and Hyderabad training centres will operate under NIELIT, Chennai...////...