Orissa's Information Technology Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi today said different IT firms operating from the state exported softwares worth Rs 1,198 crore during 2009-10.

Replying to a question in the assembly, he said though Orissa's position in terms of software export in the country is not known, there had been a gradual increase in the amount of export from the state.

While the IT companies exported softwares worth Rs 843 crore in 2007-08, it increased to Rs 1,171 crore in 2008-09, he said.

Answering a query on the ratio of youngsters employed by IT companies in the state, the minister said big IT companies like Infosys, TCS and Mahindra Satyam have absorbed 30 per cent local manpower.

The small and medium size companies like Absys Exilant, Nethawk, Mindfire and others have taken up to 90 per cent local youth in their respective firms, he said.