Human resources should be brought into fully play: Jaishankar

India's human resources should be brought into full play to enable the country emerge a truly leading power in the world, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today said.

"Technology is a key driver of economic and social development. Sharp changes in technology shifts balances in power. If India is to emerge as a truly leading power in the world, it can do so only when its human resources are brought into full play," he told the Carneigie Global Technology Summit 2016 here.

Jaishankar said the Indian technology can make its presence felt by opening the world of greater digitisation and innovation, which would transform the country's proposition.
 

"Our value proposition to the world will also transform itself. The future lies in opening it up for the tech industry, with more branding and commercialisation. This is how Indian technology can make its presence felt. Technology community should think bigger and aim higher," he said. Jaishankar also said one cannot underestimate the significance of freeing up the economy which has been done in the last decade.

"We cannot underestimate the significance of freeing up the economy which has been done in the last decade. However, it became clear as years passed that we have fallen short in our transition to an industrial economy. We haven't overcome our limitations of manufacturing capacity," he said.

Jaishankar also said the government has made a concerted effort to attract tech and best practices from abroad.

"Often external elements provided the catalytic elements. In India, there is a difference. Our stability is higher, our path is steadier. We can contemplate many transformative initiatives as coming from within," he said.

Jaishankar also affirmed that "engagement must take many forms like global partnerships, regime memberships, promotional initiatives.

"Examples include the India-US nuclear understanding, and more recently a similar understanding with Japan. Membership in the NSG and Wassenaar are natural projections. The focus of our diplomacy on the solar alliance, the high-speed rail with Japan, speaks volumes of our changed thinking," he said.