'Electronics imports by 2020 will be twice oil imports today': NASSCOM

CHENNAI: Imports of electronics by India in 2020 will be twice that of oil imports today,a top official of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) said today.

"By 2020, we will be importing electronics twice of oil imports what we are doing today," NASSCOM President R Chandrashekhar said, in his inaugural address at the launch of Centre for Technology and Policy at the IIT Madras Research Park, here.

Observing that Industry input in policy decisions does not come in the manner as it should be, Chandrashekhar, on his first visit to Chennai as NASSCOM President, said the industry in India is still not focused on policy making and the role it currently plays is only in regulating it. For example, in the manufacturing sector there are two industries, one representing the domestic and other global.

"Government has to take a balanced view on policy decisions. One segment of the industry is aware of it while the other it is not. Then how will government will be abled to take a balanced view?, he asked. "It is in these areas institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) come into play and can make the change with policy makers and industry," he said.

To a query on whether there was too much participation on policy making by industry, government and academia, he said, "the need for consultation in policy making is essential. One key aspect is the presence of different bodies like NASSCOM."

The Centre for Technology and Policy established by Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is aimed at exploring the interaction between technology and public policy to better address the pressing development problems. The Centre would play a role in design, promotion and assessment of public policies impinged by technological and scientific innovations, and identification of key technology gaps in meeting developmental goals in identified areas.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com