Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, inaugurated the Rs 380 crore Tidel IT park in Coimbatore on 2nd August 2010, marking the setting up of IT Parks in tier II cities in the state. Addressing the function, the Chief Minister said the IT Park in Coimbatore would provide direct employment to 12,000 people and indirect employment to 2000 more.

He said the credit for the growth of IT sector in the state should go to late Union Minister Murasoli Maran as it was at his instance, the state government had unveilved an IT Policy in 1989. Speaking on the occasion, Union Telecom Minister A Raja, who got elected to the Lok Sabha from Udhagamandalam in neighbouring Nilgiris district, said an IT Research Academy would be established in Udhgamandalam at a cost of Rs 50 crore, within a year.

In his Presidential address Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, said an IT revolution had taken place in the state in the last few years and the government proposed to create Special Economic Zones(SEZ) for IT companies.

As the government was moving out to tier II cities, Tidel IT Parks would be set up in Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Madurai and Tirunelveli, in the coming months, he said.

Mr Stalin said the software exports from the state, which were 10.2 million dollars during 2001-02, had risen to 58.7 million dollars and expected to touch 73.1 million dollars during this year.
Tamil Nadu's share in India's software export constituted 25 per cent, Mr Stalin added.