Digital is the key central theme for the government
Author: BI Bureau
New Delhi: Our goal for the next four to five years is really to use the power of digital to bring all stakeholders on board, said Dr Rajendra Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), while addressing the virtual ‘Digital Bharat 2022’ organised by Ministry of Electronics and IT and Ministry of Communications and FICCI.
Dr Kumar outlined the government's vision comprising eight elements - for broad basing digital in transforming the nation's governance, society and economy. These include providing quality digital infrastructure, focusing on digital governance, digital economy growth, usage of emerging tech, modernisation of digital law, cyber security, skill and talent, and encouragement and promotion of the start-up ecosystem.
“MEITY is making a lot of efforts to ensure that our tech ecosystem can compete and grow in the years to come,” he said, adding that the government has announced that the digital economy will reach a $1 trillion market over the next five years. The electronics manufacturing industry is projected to reach US $ 300 billion by 2026, of which US $ 120 billion is expected to come from exports.
In the fiscal ending March 31, 2022, the exports of mobile phones increased by 75 per cent, and electronics were up by 50 per cent. The production value of mobile devices has crossed 37 billion in 21-22, up from three billion in FY 15. About 98 per cent of all mobile phones used in India are Made in India, and the country is now becoming an exporter.
Virat Bhatia, Chairman, Mobile Manufacturing and Communications Committee, FICCI, said that India's ICT and mobile Industry is at the forefront in driving the transformation of technology-enabled businesses and social and economic reforms. In addition, initiatives like Aadhaar, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and technologies like data analytics and AI are not just transforming but making India the leading global market in digital transformation.
“Digital India has also already laid a solid foundation. Now, as a country, we must look within and build on the digital advantage. Still, with an eye on the globe", he said, adding, "we need to compete hard in the space as global competition in the next few years will be decisive for India in stimulating employment and getting back as one of the fastest-growing large economies,” he added.
Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce and Information Technology (IT), Government of Telangana, highlighted the state government's project T-fibre that aims to provide optic fibre cable to every household within the next ten months. He stressed on the need to find tech-enabled solutions to address the needs of the common person.
“You have to roll out as many technology-enabled solutions as possible, which address the most pressing pain points of the common person,” he said, adding that the Government of Telangana has rolled out 80 plus technology-enabled interventions for agriculture in the state.
Nand Kumarum, Managing Director, MPSEDC on behalf of the Science and Technology Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, pointed to the accessibility issues in the design of tech-enabled solutions. He pointed to three kiosk models in Madhya Pradesh - e-District Lokseva Kendra, 40000 kiosks under MP Online, and CSCs. Dr Ajay Data, Co-Chair, IT and ITeS Committee, FICCI, Chairman of UASG, ICANN, and CEO, Data Xgen Technologies, also shared their perspective. /BI/
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The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores.
As the economy comes to a standstill amid the coronavirus-led lockdown, India’s agriculture sector has taken the baton of economic growth in its hands. The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The government said that self-reliant agriculture is critical for the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and for this, agricultural export is extremely important as besides earning foreign exchange for the country, the exports help farmers, producers, and exporters to take advantage of the wider international market and increase their income.
The surge in exports has also resulted in increased production in the farm sector by increasing coverage area and productivity. The share of India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively. Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export, the government said.
Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the promotion of Agri trade; the twofold approach focuses on boosting Agri Export with emphasis on value addition and action plan for Import Substitution. Recently, the Agriculture sector has witnessed a series of reforms, giving more choices to the farmers to sell their produce at competitive rates.
To mention a few, the Export strategy focuses on the export promotion of fast-evolving niche markets of Wellness food/ Health-conscious food/nutraceuticals, Development of “Brand India” in campaign mode to help penetration into new foreign markets and of new products which automatically translates into higher value realization, Gulf countries have been identified as focus destination to increase the market share which is a strong market for India though presently India caters to only 10-12% share of their total imports. A product-market matrix has been made containing a list of products of strength that could be expanded in new geographies and a list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products.
At the behest of the Department of Agricultural Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, product-specific Export Promotion Forums have been created to lead Agri exports to new heights. Each Export Promotion Forum shall be having exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central and State Governments. Chairman APEDA shall be the chairman of each of these forums. The forums will meet at least once every two months, to discuss recommendations on issues pertaining to the export.
The recommendations of the forum will be placed in the product committee / Authority of APEDA. The Forum will keep in close contact with the concerned organization of the Ministry of Agriculture such as MIDH, Extension, NPPO, etc., DGFT, Ministry of Civil Aviation, MoFPI, etc. to further the interest of agricultural export.
