India exports $2b computer software, services to ME in '15

dubai - UAE is the top regional destination for India's electronics exports

India's exports of computer software and services to the Middle East reached more than $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) in the fiscal year 2015-16.
This was disclosed by Kamal Vachani, honourary regional director of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, or ESC, during an interview with Khaleej Times.

Vachani said that India's electronics hardware exports to the region crossed Dh1 billion during the fiscal year 2015-16. Among regional countries, the UAE is the top destination for India's electronics exports, followed by Saudi Arabia, he added.

He mentioned that India's total exports of computer software and services jumped by more than 10 per cent to $107 billion in 2015-16 compared to $97 billion during the fiscal year 2014-15. Electronics hardware exports were worth $5.7 billion in the fiscal year 2015-16. By 2020, India's hardware exports market is estimated to touch $400 billion.

India's IT industry has become the backbone of the country's growth story and there is huge potential for significant growth in India's exports to Middle Eastern countries, especially the UAE, according to Vachani.

Major electronics items exported to the UAE during recent years were mobile phones, audio-video machines, personal computers, distribution panels, loudspeakers, transformers and parts, telephone sets and parts, physical or chemical analysis and surveying equipment, voltage stabilisers, inverters, watches and clocks.

India is making a number of efforts to enhance electronics manufacturing within the country, he said, adding that this involves minimising the number of processes and time involved in starting a business and getting necessary approvals.

Gitex Dubai
"The ESC has been facilitating Indian participation on a regular basis at Gitex Technology Week to take advantage of the booming IT market in the Gulf and leverage that association for getting businesses for Indian IT companies from a multitude of large global corporations executing projects in the region," said Vachani.

"Gitex is continuing to emerge as the largest and the most impressive ICT event of its kind in the Middle East. Naturally, India has a great stake in the booming Middle East, Africa, Asia and European markets for which Dubai is the gateway. Thus, the event provides participating Indian ICT companies opportunities for scouting the expanding Middle East market," he said.

This year, the five-day Gitex Technology evet will start from October 15 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

He added: "This year at Gitex Dubai, 48 Indian ICT and electronics companies will be exhibiting at the India Pavilion organised by the ESC. In the electronics section, the companies will be showcasing: power banks, display technologies, touch technology, computer parts, mobile phones, tablet PC, GSM products, security products, ATM, printers, power backup, batteries, solar products, CD, DVD, flash drives, LED lights, RFID-based solutions, thin clients, mini PC, desktop PC, all in one PC, handheld devices/portable printers for ticketing, spot billing, field payment collection, digital signage using LED board, rate display board, LCD TVs, air PC [PC on stick], etc."

Vachani has been representing the ESC in the region for the last 16 years. The ESC is India's trade promotion association for the electronics and computer software sector. It's an autonomous organisation under the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India.

ESC has a membership of 2,000 electronics and software exporters. ESC facilitates foreign companies interested in establishing business linkages in India. ESC's match-making services help foreign companies to locate a partner in India for their business requirements. The council also helps to forge joint ventures, business or technology tie-ups, networking, finding suitable Indian partners and information on India's electronics and software sector.

For the benefit of SME IT and ITeS exporters, the ESC organises an international exhibition and conference in India, Indiasoft. Established in 2001, ESC's annual global IT event has now become a benchmark for showcasing India's potential in IT services and solutions.

For the benefit of Indian electronics exporters, the ESC has initiated an international electronics exhibition titled 'India Electronics Expo'. The event provides Indian electronics manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their products to foreign delegates.

- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com