Software exports up 37% in 1st half at $2.4 billion
New Delhi, October 26 (HT Correspondent)
Software exports registered a 37 per cent growth during the first half of the current financial year, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) said here on Tuesday.
Exports during April-September was Rs 10,370 crore ($2.4 billion) and the council expects the second half exports to be in excess of Rs 13,000 crore ($3.02 billion).
The 1999-2000 target of Rs.23,615 crore ($5.5 billion) would be exceeded, ESC chairman Vivek Singhal said.
Addressing a briefing here, he said the country's exports would increase to $50 billion dollars by 2008, as envisaged by the Prime Minister?s task force on information technology (IT).
The overall growth in software exports would be around 33 per cent over the previous year's figure of Rs 17,775 crore, Singhal said.
Now functioning under the newly-formed infotech ministry, ESC has asked the government to offset the imbalance between the southern and northern parts of the country regarding IT culture and industrial growth.
It is estimated that south India accounts for 80 per cent of the country's exports. If infrastructure support and educational facilities are provided, the council feels India would turn into a IT superpower.
Bringing ESC under the IT ministry would encourage software exporters, Singhal said in reply to queries. Implementation of the government policies in a coordinated manner to achieve the target of $50 billion exports by the year 2008 would be accelerated, he noted.
The priorities now should be to diversify into information technology-related services and encouraging small units, Singhal said. Marketing support and forecasting facilities should be given to small and medium enterprises, he added.
Development of a high-speed national internet backbone would boost exports, Singhal pointed out
This will enable the country to compete in various Net-related services. Singhal said an initiative to promote interaction with the $100 billion Southeast Asian market is being organised by Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council by hosting the next general assembly of the Southeast Asia IT Organization here. |
