By IANS
New Delhi : Exports from the IT and ITeS sector is expected to reach $80 billion by 2011, Information Technology and Communications Minister A. Raja said here Wednesday.
“Our IT exports were a few million dollars in the early 90s and now it is around $37 billion. We are confident that our exports will boom despite the perceived odds against outsourcing and increasing competition,” Raja said at an award function organised by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC).
“Assuming that we will grow at an average rate of 30 percent per annum, our IT exports turnover will touch $80 billion mark by 2011,” the minister added.
On the issue of the appreciation of rupee against the dollar by about 11 percent in the last 10 months, he said: “Undoubtedly, this is a challenge that we have to face in the coming years… We have to face the challenge head on by devising newer and innovative strategies.”
He also underlined that the ministry is planning to connect the entire country with a communication network using optic fibre and wireless connections that would provide interactive facilities in 22 local languages.
“It is in the process of implementation of an ambitious e-governance project right across the country, which consists of 27 mission-mode projects. One hundred thousand broadband-enabled Internet common service centres are being established across the country to connect citizens in rural areas to the World Wide Web,” he highlighted.
Addressing the rising concern over manpower shortage in the IT and ITeS sector, Raja said: “I foresee tier two, three and four cities becoming IT hubs, which will help the industry to maintain the labour advantage and augment the supply of manpower.”
Urged to have greater focus on the hardware sector by enhancing its research and development arm, the minister said, “The government is working closely with the industry for giving a critical push to this industry.”