Urging innovators and manufacturers to tap the enabling atmosphere in the country, Minister for Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that while foreign capital and innovation was welcome, safety and security of the nation was also important.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the India Mobile Congress 2020, he said that the communication and IT sectors had witnessed 7% growth in FDI even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are not against FDI. We are not against foreign innovative mind. They are most welcome...foreign capital is welcome, foreign innovation is welcome, but we are equally keen that safety and security of the country is also important,” Mr. Prasad said.
Digital technology had to be secure so that vested interest and extremists were not able to abuse it. “We are all open for new technology, new innovation, be it artificial intelligence, IoT, machine learning... all have enough opportunity in India. We are very particular that India should become a big centre of artificial intelligence. But new tech should lead to empowerment of common people. And most important AI should not become the monopoly of few and AI should not become an instrument of weaponisation,” he stressed.
Global supply chain hub
He further added that India had all the potential to become a global supply chain hub and in addition to mobiles, the country should become a big centre for components and tools. “We have created a very robust production incentive, which you will need to recognise...I urged the innovators, the manufacturers and others to come tap and explore the extraordinary enabling atmosphere available in India,” he told the industry leaders.
“We are also very keen that India must be 5G ready and for that test beds have been created, those provisions will also be unfolded further. We want good innovation. Indians have got all the talent...We are very keen that we must also help in innovation, creation and empowerment of the 5G process with good application of Indian human resources and innovative minds.”
Mr. Prasad also pointed out that India had completely liberalised its work from home ecosystem and at present 85% of India’s IT operations were being held not from the regular office, but via work from home.
