Opening Remarks by Malcolm Johnson, ITU Deputy Secretary-General
CMAI / TEMA Event
Empowering Digital India - Release of Indian Telecom Manufacturers and ICT
16 May 2022
Good evening,
Namaste!
Lt Gen Dr Rajesh Pant, National Cyber Security Coordinator, PM Office
Sh Amit Sharma, Advisor, Ministry of Defence
Sh Amiya Chandra, DGFT
Sh RR Mkittar, Sr DDG TEC
Sh RK Pathak, DDG DOT
My dear Friend Prof NK Goyal
Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me first express my profound regret for not being able to join physically, as planned, due to a family emergency over the weekend. It is very disappointing and I am eagerly looking forward to coming for some other CMAI/TEMA event in the near future.
Nevertheless, I am delighted to be able to make this contribution to this special program organized by the CMAI Association of India and TEMA, a long supporter and influential voice in the telecom industry. ITU has had a long association with CMAI, and in particular my good friend Professor Goyal, and I was very pleased to be in New Delhi in previous years, for the CMAI Summit and Awards.
The topic today will take us on a new journey with the launch of Empowering Digital India – Release of Indian Telecom Manufacturers Directory, and the ICT Labs Directory – an excellent initiative by CMAI and TEMA supported by ITU-APT Foundation of india, TEPC, PHD and others.
Telecom manufacturing is an important aspect of the Digital India initiative, and these directories will help promote Make in India and increase exports as they will provide information on telecom products manufactured and tested in India, both for Indian and global procurements.
The National Digital Communications Policy 2018 provides Digital India with the vision and focus of telecom as an enabler of economic growth with its policy on promoting design, development and manufacturing of telecom equipment in India.
With its vast telecom ICT market, India should be a global player in the field of testing and certification, and conformity assessment. The Directory of ICT Labs in India will be a major step towards this goal. It will emphasize the need to ensure the conformance of imported and domestically produced goods to the necessary quality standards.
I believe directories will help India to become “Atmanirbhar Bharat” at a time when there has never been so much reliance, appreciation and emphasis placed on the important role, manufacturing and testing of ICT products and services.
My best wishes to the team for all their efforts to make these directories a great success and a significant contribution to this worthy concept.
CMAI and TEMA are renowned for providing detailed insights on telecom industry information. Their reports are authored by experts with many years of industry experience and can be relied upon for transparency, integrity, consistency, and credibility, so I am sure this initiative will be a success.
Thank you and I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful session.