Friday, February 14, 2014: Stressing on the need to strengthen the country’s manufacturing sector along with services, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has insisted that the need of the hour was to reduce dependence on imports, particularly, of electronic items. Calling for inclusive growth in the country Modi said there was a need to promote hardware as much as software to ensure the same.
“Electronics imports have a big share in our overall import basket. We must focus on manufacturing, particularly in strategic sectors like defence, there is also a need to focus on promoting hardware as much as software to ensure inclusive growth,” Modi was quoted as saying. Modi also added that IT has the power to transform the country in several ways. “I see IT as a change-agent. It empowers, connects and can bind isolated parts of the nation and create harmony. IT can join people with governments, bridge the gap between demand and supply, and can bring us closer to knowledge. I keep saying that IT+IT=IT (Indian Talent + Information Technology = India Tomorrow). The IT sector can be the shining light of Brand India” he said.
Modi further highlighted the importance of e-governance. “We must bring down the digital divide. We can’t have two India, one racing ahead and another moving on a reverse gear. This will add to our problems,” he said.
