9 areas to improve upon in ICT in India

To unleash ICT's presence in India, the right eco-system must first fall in place. For this, the right balance between services and the ESDM sector should be set. Various spokespersons at IT.Biz 2012 held in Bangalore expressed their will to push the IT industry to a $300 billion industry from today's $101 billion. A growth rate of 10-12 % is required to meet this growth.

BV Naidu, co-chairman, Karnataka's ICT group, laid out nine key points that will help thrust the industry forward:

1. The Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry needs to be recognized as a separate sector from IT and should be provided investments to manufacture locally and reduce imports. This would give India a competitive advantage.

2. There is a need for training of engineers hired directly after college. They are not considered employable and enterprises are forced to invest time and money on training. This is a clear indicator that quality and standards of education at college level should be worked upon.

3. Talent development and job creation should be a focus point. We have a huge pool of manpower that can be utilized well if they are given good opportunities.

4. The government should set up an IP innovation and ICT fund to encourage innovations.

5. Entrepreneurship should be encouraged. Getting a start-up out should be made easy, while policies and concessions should encourage people to get started on their own.

6. Tier 2 and 3 cities should be a priority area. ICT structures should be developed in these centers as well.

7. India should maintain strategic relationships with other countries in terms of trade.

8. Basic infrastructure required for running a business should be accessible and subsidized.

9. The government should focus on b randing and focused marketing to make the country an inviting destination for business. The media has been overloaded with scams and government involvement. Such crimes should be brought down.