Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has spotlighted India as the world’s best destination for sustainable digital infrastructure, urging global collaboration and investment in technology. Speaking at the UK-India Business Council’s ‘UK-India Technology Futures Conference’ in New Delhi, Goyal emphasized India’s unmatched advantages, including a robust legal system, advanced technological ecosystem, and a vast pool of skilled manpower.
Highlighting the intersection of sustainability and technology, Goyal noted the growing energy demands of data systems and their implications for sustainability. He underscored India’s unique position with a 1,000-gigawatt interconnected grid, powered by both traditional and renewable energy, projected by 2030. This, he said, ensures unprecedented reliability for energy-intensive data centers, creating a compelling opportunity for global investors.
Advocating India’s Strengths in Technology
Minister Goyal reiterated India’s competitive edge as the fastest-growing telecom market and the swiftest 5G rollout globally. Coupled with the lowest per GB data costs and being the largest consumer of data worldwide, India presents unparalleled opportunities for technology partnerships.
‘India’s ecosystem is primed for innovation,’ Goyal said, highlighting the country’s high number of STEM graduates and rapidly emerging markets. He announced India’s plans to introduce a new legal framework to safeguard data privacy, ensuring seamless and secure data flows with trusted global partners.
Collaboration with the UK: Unlocking Potential
Calling for deeper Indo-UK collaboration, Shri Goyal outlined five key areas:
- AI Education: Joint development of personalized training platforms incorporating virtual reality.
- Telemedicine: Enhancing access to affordable healthcare in India and reducing healthcare costs in the UK.
- Climate Modelling: Creating predictive tools for natural disaster management.
- Precision Agriculture: Leveraging technology for residue-free farming and improved productivity.
- Industrial Innovation: Exploring advances in organic chemicals, engineering goods, and food products.
He also highlighted India’s foray into cutting-edge sectors such as space, gaming, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and semiconductors. He quoted Prime Minister envisioning ‘a future where every device in the world features an India-made chip.’
India: A Global Investment Magnet
Describing India’s interconnected energy grid as a game-changer for sustainability, Goyal emphasized its critical role in powering a digitally connected world. ‘India offers an unprecedented opportunity for global investors,’ he said, urging UK businesses to leverage India’s ecosystem for mutual growth.
