Global internet giant Google on Wednesday launched a new initiative in the country under which it will offer free website hosting to 5 lakh small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the next three years, helping them create an online presence for business opportunities.

"India is home to an estimated 80 lakh small medium businesses, but only about 4 lakh have an online presence. This program is designed to bridge the information gap that exists online due to the lack of presence of local Indian businesses on the Internet," Google India MD and Vice- President (Sales and Operations) Rajan Anandan told reporters here.

Called the 'India Get Your Business Online' initiative, this initiative will offer a quick, easy and free tool to set up and host a website.

Google has partnered website hosting company HostGator, ICICI Bank and Federation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) for the initiative.

The company runs similar programmes across other countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Italy.

"Our goal is to help 5 lakh small medium businesses in India to get online in next three years through this programme," Google Sevior Vice-President and Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora said.

Under the programme, businesses would get a free .in domain, web hosting services, email and chat support, solutions like analytics and other advertising related benefits free for the first year.

After a year, website owners will have to pay a charge depending on the services they opt for if they wish to renew their domain name.

Companies would need to submit their PAN (Permanent Account Number) and other tax-related details for verification, after which they would be provided with an online tool for a free website and web hosting service for one year.

"It will take 15 minutes from sitting down to being found online. Businesses often believe that getting online is too complex, costly and time-consuming, which prevents them from building an online presence. We want to change the perspective through this initiative," Anandan said.

Anandan said creating a website would cost about USD 100 (Rs 5,000) but it is concerns like who would manage the website and complexities involved that kept many SMEs away.

"We are trying to make sure that there is a large ecosystem. Users coming online seek information and we are looking at helping people find utility in being online," Arora said.