Kochi, July 28 - Infopark Kochi, an IT park promoted by the Kerala government, Tuesday said its exports almost doubled last fiscal to touch Rs.600 crore ($124.5 million).

It said in a statement that the companies based in the Infopark campus have hired 2,500 IT professionals in 2007-08, taking their total head count to 9,000.

Infopark houses 51 IT companies.

Kerala's total IT exports last year stood at Rs.4,000 crore.

'What the work environment in Kerala offers is a growth opportunity for both employers and employees,' Kerala's IT Secretary Ajay Kumar said.

Infopark's achievement comes at a time when the state's IT department is planning to set up IT parks in 12 districts.

The Technopark campus in Thiruvananthapuram is another major IT park in the state.

Technopark houses 150 companies that employ around 20,000 professionals.