Electronics clusters to be set up in 400 cities: Prasad

The Dollar Business Bureau

Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday that with a focus on the electronics manufacturing in the country, the Government of India has planned to establish electronics clusters in 400 cities and towns across India.

The electronics manufacturing market in India would be around $400 billion by 2020, said Prasad while speaking at Pravasi Haryana Diwas 2017, in Gurugram (Haryana).

The Minister praised the initiatives taken by Haryana’s Chief Minister of Manohar Lal Khattar and his government to encourage IT services in the state.

He said that when he took over the charge of his Ministry, India’s exports were Rs.11,000 crore which now gone up to Rs.1,26,000 crore at the end of December 2016.

Prasad further said that Indians are passionate about technology and thus the digital eco-system in India would transform in the future.

Digital payment system is going to set up a new digital infrastructure in the country, he added.

The Minister said that around 10 million Point of Sale (PoS) machines as well as industrial machines are required, in addition to the mobile wallets.

Haryana has a lot of possibilities and potential for innovations in the areas of digital payment, artificial intelligence, internet, cyber security and digital education. These can become a great platform for the growth of mid-level and small enterprises, he said.

Prasad said that the number of mobile phones users in India is equivalent to the combined population of Italy and France while adding that around 42 mobile phone manufacturing firms and 30 component manufacturing units have been set up in the country.