West Bengal Information Technology (IT) Minister Debesh Das Saturday said the IT companies in the state are estimated to hire 20,000-25,000 people in 2010.

"A lot of new companies are being set up in the state and the existing ones are on expansion mode. We expect that about 20,000-25,000 new jobs will be added this year," Das told reporters on the sidelines of a programme organised by Bengal Chamber of Commerce.

The state reported 15,000 employments in the IT and ITeS sector in 2009. At present, around 100,000 professionals are employed in this sector.

IT services company Wipro Ltd, in December 2009, announced that it would set up a second facility in the state spread over 50 acres.

Source: IANS