Chennai: Software exports by the Information Technology and IT-enabled services industry from Tamil Nadu have touched Rs 95,000 crore in 2015-16, Finance Minister O Panneerselvam said on Thursday.

“Chennai has become a hub for IT and ITeS. Over 50 multi-national companies are having their global facilities in Chennai. Software exports have grown steadily at around 10-12 per cent per annum and are expected to have touched Rs 95,000 crore in 2015-16,” he said, presenting the budget for the financial year 2016-17, here.

Stating that the government has been providing support for the growth of IT industry, he said, various companies– Honeywell, HCL Technologies, Zoho Corporation, Syntel Ltd were establishing their facilities in Southern Tamil Nadu.

On the provision of free laptop scheme, one of the pet schemes of AIADMK government, Panneerselvam said the scheme will continue and 5.35 lakh students will be provided with laptops in current financial year.

For the information technology department, he said, “a sum of Rs 890 crore is provided for this scheme in revised budget estimates.” PTI