During Carnegie India Global Technology Summit in Bengaluru, Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary, underscored the need to harness the power of technological change for faster economic development. At the summit, he was addressing entrepreneurs, policymakers, technologists, and academics.
As per Dr. Jaishankar, the last decade has been about freeing up the economy. He said:
We cannot underestimate its significance. However, it became clear as years passed that we have fallen short in our transition to an industrial economy. We haven’t overcome our limitations of manufacturing capacity. Further, the attitude changes that come with it haven’t been internalized.
The Foreign Secretary further added:
There are also some singular points in India’s endeavor. The fact that such changes are being brought about in a democratic framework, and in a pluralistic social environment. This is more evolutionary and painstaking approach.
As per Dr. Jaishankar, the present government has made a concerted effort to attract tech and best practices from abroad. He affirmed that “engagement must take many forms: global partnerships, regime memberships, promotional initiatives.”
Giving example of the same, he pointed towards India-US nuclear understanding, and more recently a similar understanding with Japan. He said that the focus of our diplomacy on the solar alliance, the high-speed rail with Japan, speaks volumes of our changed thinking.
He said that technology is a key driver of economic and social development. He believes that if India is to emerge as a truly leading power in the world, it can do so only when its human resources are brought into full play.
During the talk, Dr. Jaishankar emphasized that we require rapid efforts to improve skilling at various levels. He said that this is an area where we can leverage global interest, as the world itself has an itself has an interest in diversifying. He added:
There is a strong cultural element to how we work and how we think, and partnerships with countries like Japan and Germany are more likely to be successful if they factor in languages and skills.
A world of greater digitalization and innovation awaits us. Our value proposition to the world will also transform itself. The future lies in opening it up for the tech industry, with more branding and commercialization. This is how Indian technology can make its presence felt. The technology community should think bigger and aim higher.
Carnegie India is a public policy think tank organization which was launched in April of this year. It is the sixth international center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington DC.
