India, US sign joint declaration for cooperation in ICT, electronics
23 Jan 2015
India and United States have signed a joint declaration of intent for cooperation in the field of information and communications technology and electronics (ICTE). Secretary, Department of Electronics and IT RS Sharma and the US ambassador to India Richard Verma signed the joint declaration at a ceremony held in New Delhi today.
The two countries are expected to partner in the 'Digital India' programme, electronic manufacturing, cyber security and several other such related fields.
At the Indo-US joint working group meeting on ICT held at Washington last week, several US companies had expressed interest for participation in India, Sharma said.
The joint declaration of intent made for a period of next five years would help in strengthening industrial, technological, research and innovation and economic cooperation between India and US in the ICTE sector.
It would also lead to US companies exploring opportunities for collaboration in India's ambitious `Digital India' programme, electronics manufacturing and human resource development, through cooperation among private and public entities in a focused manner under the umbrella of the ongoing India-US ICT dialogue, Sharma said.
It was agreed at the joint working group meeting to continue to explore the opportunities for collaboration on implementing India's ambitious `Digital India' initiative, with the goal of enhancing digital infrastructure, deploying e-governance and e-services, and expanding the diffusion and use of ICT as a tool to expand economic opportunities, boost productivity, create jobs, and empower citizens.
Besides, broad agreement was also reached on the importance of policies that promote innovation in the ICT sector, facilitate the flow of data across borders, and foster the global and open nature of the internet as a platform for economic growth.
Later, addressing newspersons, Sharma reiterated India's stance that VISA issue relating to Indian IT professionals should be treated as an issue relating to trade in services and not as an immigration issue.