'Focus on IT HW design, services & manufacturing'

Firming his feet on the foothold of presidency in MAIT,

Rajendra Kumar has already chalked out the game plan to get the Indian hardware

industry's moves right. In the past two months after his appointment, he has

got the team members of his Executive Council all ready to face the challenges

for the year ahead. In an interview with Jasmine Kaur, Rajendra Kumar,

president-MAIT and vice-president, HCL Infosystems shared his past experiences

and future anticipation. Excerpts:

It has been approximately two months since your

appointment as president, what were the significant happenings during this

period? 



After I was appointed President, we held our first meeting on Strategy

Planning for a newly constituted Executive Council on November 26 and 27 at

Chennai where we formulated our agenda for MAIT for 2005. During this

period we also formed committees of Executive Council Members on IT

Policies, Procedures and Government Interface, Local Language

Development, Exhibition & Promotion, India Brand Equity, and

Membership. This was in addition to the nomination of Chairmen for the Southern,

Northern & Western Regions. These Chairmen will drive development activities

and provide platform to the members for policies and other industry issues.

What is your vision for MAIT?

Rajendra Kumar

My vision is definitely a very focused growth of the IT

Hardware, Design and Services Industry and also ensuring a strong IT

hardware-manufacturing base in India.

In the last financial year, the domestic hardware market

was Rs 18,526 crore and the hardware exports were Rs 2,300 crore as per DQ

estimates. What should be done to grow these numbers? 



Growth in exports of IT hardware will also be dependent on increase in the

size of domestic market to attain the scale.  The Domestic IT hardware

market is showing very robust growth and I am sure it will lead to much higher

export opportunities in the future. In order to ensure a very competitive export

infrastructure, MAIT has given recommendation to the government to

rationalize EHTP policies.

What are the current government's initiatives for

hardware manufacturers? 



The Government has given valuable contribution for the growth of

hardware manufacturing in the country.  As per the government policy, IT

hardware industry will be moving to zero duty regime under WTO. We are

sensitizing the government to ensure that India emerges to be very strong

base for IT hardware manufacturing in India. MAIT has brought to the

government's notice the inverted tariff structure, which needs to be

addressed.  After all, IT has direct contribution to the growth

of GDP.

What are the focus verticals for the time being? 



The Domestic IT industry has seen robust growth in banking &

financial segments.  Education, SMB and consumer segment also have huge

growth potential.