Ajai Chowdhry, former chairman of HCL Infosystems and head of the committee set up by the Union government to suggest ways to revive and recreate the electronics design and manufacturing industry in India, talks about the steps being taken.
Is India now ready for large-scale electronic products manufacturing?
Yes, we can start with high value products, right from chips to software, the entire life cycle of products can happen out of here. A special body is evaluating large-scale production possibilities of a few products including set-top-boxes, tablets, smartphones, smart cards, micro ATMs etc. This body is expected to submit its observations to the department of electronics within three months.
What will be the role of the proposed National Electronics Mission?
This will be an umbrella body for MAIT, ELCIA, IESA etc. Its role is to increase industry participation by evolving programmes in pursuit of the laid down policies. It will also create institutional mechanisms to advance the implementation of various schemes enumerated in the national electronics hardware policy. It will have a mandate to promote India as an electronics hardware manufacturing hub and it will also market `Brand India' in electronics.
Is the government likely to fund projects?
An electronics development fund of Rs 10,000 crore has been proposed. It will fund projects in hardware design, R&D, semicon, nano-electronics and other electronics manufacturing. The fund will promote innovation, IPs, R&D and commercialization of products.
The industry also faces several other challenges that raise costs...
Yes, the cost of finance is high, so also the cost of real estate, there isn't enough power. The committee has proposed to develop modified special incentive package schemes, electronics manufacturing clusters and to create standards for India, all of which can drive the industry and reduce costs. Bosch has already expressed interest in investing Rs 550 crore to set up a components manufacturing facility off Bangalore.
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