Why India needs a push for gadgets beyond mobile phones to compete globally

Govt also wants to make India an export hub for electronics goods, targeting African and SAARC nations as key markets

India should have specific benchmarks on direct tax on the lines of China and Vietnam if it wants to create a globally competitive electronics industry, India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) has said. The electronics body suggested that verticals other than mobile phones should also be given a push.

The ministry of electronics and IT has released a draft electronics policy, which aims to create a $400 billion turnover in the electronics manufacturing ecosystem by 2025. However, as the majority of the amount is linked to mobile phones, experts feel that momentum should be created in other verticals also.

“The draft policy