The Hindu : Business : IT sector welcomes proposals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 09, 2004

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Business

IT sector welcomes proposals

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 8. The hardware and software sectors seem to be happy with the measures announced in the Union Budget today.

Software services firms such as Infosys and Wipro, and computer makers, such as Acer India, have welcomed the overall budget and the measures related their industry as "forward looking."

Nandan Nilekani, chief executive officer, President and Managing Director of Infosys Technologies, said, "We welcome the focus on the social sector and agriculture in the Budget. Liberalisation has marginalised a large percentage of our population from the benefits of an open economy as they lack the skills to take advantage of the same.''

The Chairman, Satyam Computer Services, Ramalinga Raju, said the removal of excise duty on PCs would lead to greater penetration of IT in rural and urban areas thereby fostering higher IT literacy. "Specifically," said, W. S. Mukund, Managing Director of Acer India, "Considering that the Government is set to adhere to the April 1, 2005 decision to abolish customs duty on all IT related imports, the decision now to abolish excise duty is definitely a healthy sign to encourage local manufacturing."

The telecom equipment makers have welcomed the budget as one with "thought and passion" so far as their sector is concerned.

Ashish Chowdhary, Nokia Networks' country head for the India and South Asia region said, "From a telecom perspective, this year's budget reflects the Government's focus on telecommunications as a key infrastructure sector and its efforts to provide impetus to one of India's fastest growing industries."

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