The domestic electronics industry was urged on Wednesday to rise to the nation’s economic and security needs and stem last year’s $70-billion electronics import bill.
At the fifth annual Strategic Electronics Summit here, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. chairman R.K. Tyagi said, “it is time to repeat our IT capabilities in electronics systems and design as well” by framing new policies and tapping opportunities.
The growing demand for imported electronic items, next to petroleum and gold, was predicted to touch $400 billion in the next six years. Although foreign investors could now invest up to 49 per cent in a defence-related company, they would still not bring in new or strategic technologies, which would be left to Indian companies, Dr. Tyagi cautioned at the two-day event organised by ELCINA, the Delhi-based electronics industry association. In the future, as defence evolves into non-human, network-centric electronic warfare, Dr. Tyagi said, “the nation’s security will be dependent on our production and control over strategic electronic assets. In the coming years, whatever we are going to do in electronics will define how our growth and technology capabilities will be achieved.”
Bharat Electronics Ltd. chairman S.K. Sharma said indigenous electronics production had doubled in six years, yet it does not match the demand due to fast-changing technologies.
ELCINA president Subhash Goyal said small and medium industries must be supported and freed from discouraging policies of bids and “no cost, no commitment” for product trials.