India can become hardware export hub, says IT minister

India's communications and information technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said that given the large domestic demand for telecom equipment, India's technology companies are now using innovative research and development to create world-class products for the country as well as for other emerging markets having similar needs.

Stressing the sector's export potential, Prasad said the union government's 'digital India', 'make in India' and 'Skill India' programmes provide an ideal platform for Indian companies to build a foundation for domestic success which can be used for exports.

He was speaking at a function organised by Technology Export Promotion Council in New Delhi, attended by 49 buyers from 19 countries have come to India for sourcing telecom equipment and services. These buyers represent telecom service providers and system integrators largely from South-East Asia, Latin America as well as from Africa.

The minister said that the government is fully committed to promoting manufacturing and exports of telecom as a focus area.

Commerce secretary Rajiv Kher said the emerging markets of Africa, Latin America, South East Asia and CIS countries were the natural destination for Indian exports, while Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg stressed the need to build long-term partnerships between overseas buyers and Indian companies, keeping in view the continuous technological changes happening in telecom sector.