By Subir Bhaumik
Agartala, Aug 6 (IANS): Tripura, known for juicy pineapples and high quality rubber, is now pitching itself as India's next IT hub.

India's recent agreement with Bangladesh over purchase of surplus bandwidth and the extension of the submarine internet cable from its Cox's Bazar coastal town to Tripura's capital Agartala has opened new opportunities for the state.

"Tripura has peace, power and proximity to Bangladesh market. Now we will get high speed internet, which is ideal for IT industry," said Saumen Sarkar, vice president of the Bank of America (IT).

Sarkar, who hails from Tripura, is organising a conclave in Agartala on Thursday to explore possibilities of the IT industry in the state. Several top IT honchos from Indian companies and foreign diplomats will attend the one-day conclave.

"This is a new opportunity for not only Tripura but the whole of India's northeast," said Sarkar.

He said the region has a vast pool of skilled English-educated IT manpower -- thousands of men and women who work in the IT industry of cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad.

"If Indian majors open shop in Tripura, these men and women can be brought back easily to run the show," Sarkar said.

He said Tripura can also be the "backyard" of the fledgling IT industry of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is planning to double its IT exports by 2017 .

"They can develop parellel centres in Tripura for their market because it will work out cheaper and more efficient," he said.