July 25, 2014
Bengal targeting third slot among states in IT: Amit Mitra
West Bengal has set an ambitious target togarner a 10 per cent share of the country`s electronics production from around4 per cent at present.
The state is targeting the third slot inelectronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), IT and ITeS by 2020 and thekey areas of focus will be lighting, smart meters, security systems manufacturing,LCD, plasma device and solar photovoltaics.
State IT and industries minister Dr AmitMitra has sought Korean and Taiwanese expertise and investments to drivecompetition in electronics. Members of the Korea Trade-Investment PromotionAgency (KOTRA) were taken on a recce of the electronics manufacturing clusterbeing set up on 70 acres at Naihati today. A second cluster, spread across 58acres, is on the anvil at Falta.
“Three major segments by 2020 will betelecom production and equipment, semi conductor design and IT systems andhardware. Yes, the state`s share in national electronics goods output is rathersmall at approximately 4 per cent. And I would like to submit that we musttarget 10 per cent within a very short, well planned period of time,” Dr Mitrasaid. He was speaking at the India ESDM conclave organised by the IndianChamber of Commerce.
The domestic electronics industry isprojected to grow 22 per cent a year, which is seven times the average globalgrowth rate.
