India can replace China as a technology gear-supplier to world, believe experts

India can replace China as a leading low-cost, high-technology telecom and technology equipment supplier, believe industry experts, if the sector gets right amount of government incentives and funding to compete with global players in the world market. The calls to boycott Chinese products have grown over the last few weeks with tensions increasing between the two countries at the border. 

Speaking at a webinar, these experts said that policy initiatives, public-private partnership and an enabled entrepreneurship ecosystem down to the last mile are needed to leapfrog India towards an AtmaNirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) with a US$5-trillion economy.

“AtmaNirbhar Bharat does not mean turning away from international trade. In fact, we want to become the enabler of international trade by taking lead in supply chain. India can adopt and change but we need leadership from the government in making AtmaNirbhar Bharat a reality. I am glad the Modi government has given a clarion call. We need to convert this into a momentum and increase consumption for India to be self-reliant now,” CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra said.

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India has talent and the country needs to monetise our capacity to create value, Rajan Mathews, DG, COAI said.

“There is a tremendous amount of opportunity in terms of creating value within the country. We do not invest heavily in R&D and hence have been left behind in the IPR game. We have to incentivise R&D if we want to make AtmaNirbhar Bharat a reality. We must also consider Open Source as a serious business opportunity and become smarter at trade negotiations. There is a need to prioritise two-three specific industries as other countries have done. We must make credit cheaper and get money into the hands of people who can create value. We need to empower start-ups and individuals to develop our capacities,” Mathews said.