Kochi, Sep 12 (IANS): Nasscom's first incubator-cum-accelerator in Kerala, billed as the IT industry body's fastest completed warehouse in the country, was opened here on Saturday at the Infopark campus.

Nasscom is the premier organisation that represents and sets the tone for public policy for the Indian software industry.

The Nasscom Startup Warehouse is part of Nasscom's "10,000 Startups" initiative, and is the first such facility in Kerala and third in India after Bengaluru and Kolkata.

The warehouse will also serve as Nasscom's office in the state.

"The Government of Kerala is very proud to welcome the Nasscom Startup Warehouse to the state, that aims to scale up the startup ecosystem in Kerala. The government is ready to give all possible support to the facility," said State IT and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty after opening the facility.

An memorandum of understanding in this regard was exchanged between principal secretary for IT and Industries P.H. Kurian and Nasscom Product Council Chair Ravi Gururaj.

Kurian said the accelerator will help to boost the entrepreneurial capabilities of youngsters, and create a vibrant community who will be able to connect with investors, mentors and entrepreneurs.

Infopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair said it will be an incubation facility where companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM will share their expertise in the technology field with start-ups and help them to go global.

Six startups also started operating from the facility on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Vaishnav, vice-president of NASSCOM, said this is the fastest warehouse that we have ever put together and the Infopark team helped us to complete the facility in a record two and a half months' time.

Started in April 2013, the "10,000 Startups" is an ambitious attempt by Nasscom to enable incubation, funding and support for 10,000 technology start-ups in India over the next ten years.