With Nasscom setting up an export target of $60-75 billion by 2010 for the IT-ITeS industry in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday was hopeful it would be achieved next year itself, given the manner in which the economy and exports are growing. He was addressing the concluding day of Nasscom 2007 Leadership Forum in Mumbai. Singh also threw light on the emerging telecom sector of the country, which in turn has benefited the IT industry. The government is also opening up with the required spectrum to support its growth. The PM emphasised the role of expansion of domestic markets as IT industry cannot sustain for long on the basis of exports alone. IT would play a major role in transacting government business as it moves forward with administrative reforms. Addressing the issues related to skilled professionals, the PM said “we have a quantity and quality problem.” He suggested the need for finishing schools after graduation so that the skill level is sharpened. He also mentioned that quality of technical and general education programmes at the graduation level has to be improved. The supply constraint requires more investment as well as radical reform of the education system. This would be one of the issues which the government would address in the 11th Plan. Concluding his address, Singh touched upon the need of inclusiveness in the IT industry which would ensure the reach of benefits of the IT explosion to the large rural population in terms of services and employment. He also said that the industry should focus on tier-II and tier-III cities and villages for widening its reach. “The STPI scheme and the Section 10A and 10B tax benefits related to the scheme should be extended, otherwise it would be a great setback to the industry.” said B Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Nasscom in his opening remarks. Data security, infrastructure and human resource development were issues of concern, he said.
