India: A vision in itself... has been proved prudent over the years. But i believe a lot is done and a lot more is to be.There is new found confidence in India. Indian information technology prowess has already become a legend. Other areas of technology, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology, are taking roots in India. We are beginning to see a resurgence in science. Research-led companies of global reach are turning to our country to create science facilities here. India is emerging as a global manufacturing hub. India has already made a mark in business process outsourcing. The width, depth and geographical reach of such services are expanding. Indian businesses are aspiring to be worldclass players. Several industries, like steel, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, textiles and media, are beginning to imprint their footprints overseas. An Indian renaissance is, therefore, no longer a dream. But in a world of globalisation and intense competition, India has to go beyond the feel-good factor and the sense of newfound confidence to attain global leadership. This will call for concerted efforts by Indian business leadership to scout for global opportunities, seed nodes for innovation and build brand India.Business leadership will have to be obsessed with a passion for fostering global initiatives and
attaining global leadership. At the strategic level, Indian business will have to go beyond business process outsourcing to attaining global leadership in services; go beyond outsourced manufacturing to creating global brands; and go beyond contract research to creating new vistas of knowledge. This cannot come about unless India invests heavily in science and technology education. This is because technology is driving economic growth and development in the New World and research-led higher education in science and technology is the crucible for ideation and innovation. Indian institutions must also be geared to nurture innovation as it leads to greater productivity, higher economic growth and better standards of living. This can come about with sizeable public funding for research, surpluses from traditional businesses of large corporations channeled to research-led initiatives, protection for intellectual capital, vibrant venture capital participation, a competitive market place and a demanding environment for academic researchers. Global leadership for India also means that India must access markets for goods, services and professional resources in other parts of the world. The developed world is gripped by the paranoia of protectionism. Non-trade barriers are emerging in the form of quantitative restrictions and phytosanitary requirements. Subsidy for farmers in US and Europe is already a volatile issue. In this milieu, the Indian political and economic leadership must skillfully promote the interests of Indian trade in global conclaves. This would call for several bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to be put in place. Side by side, there is an urgent need to foster an efficient infrastructure within the country to support global trade. Efforts made by the government in roads need to be extended to ports, electricity, civil aviation and telecommunications. India must also have many more free trade zones. India today has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge a new destiny of global leadership and transform the lives of over a billion of her people. With an eye on education, innovation, competition and market access and a vision that goes beyond business process outsourcing, contract manufacturing and contract research to building brands, technology and owning the global customer, India can make the grade.
attaining global leadership. At the strategic level, Indian business will have to go beyond business process outsourcing to attaining global leadership in services; go beyond outsourced manufacturing to creating global brands; and go beyond contract research to creating new vistas of knowledge. This cannot come about unless India invests heavily in science and technology education. This is because technology is driving economic growth and development in the New World and research-led higher education in science and technology is the crucible for ideation and innovation. Indian institutions must also be geared to nurture innovation as it leads to greater productivity, higher economic growth and better standards of living. This can come about with sizeable public funding for research, surpluses from traditional businesses of large corporations channeled to research-led initiatives, protection for intellectual capital, vibrant venture capital participation, a competitive market place and a demanding environment for academic researchers. Global leadership for India also means that India must access markets for goods, services and professional resources in other parts of the world. The developed world is gripped by the paranoia of protectionism. Non-trade barriers are emerging in the form of quantitative restrictions and phytosanitary requirements. Subsidy for farmers in US and Europe is already a volatile issue. In this milieu, the Indian political and economic leadership must skillfully promote the interests of Indian trade in global conclaves. This would call for several bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to be put in place. Side by side, there is an urgent need to foster an efficient infrastructure within the country to support global trade. Efforts made by the government in roads need to be extended to ports, electricity, civil aviation and telecommunications. India must also have many more free trade zones. India today has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge a new destiny of global leadership and transform the lives of over a billion of her people. With an eye on education, innovation, competition and market access and a vision that goes beyond business process outsourcing, contract manufacturing and contract research to building brands, technology and owning the global customer, India can make the grade.
