Japan should be part of Make in India programme: Ravi Shankar Prasad

NEW DELHI: Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has invited Japanese companies to invest in the ‘Digital India’ and ‘ Make in India’ programmes.

Speaking at the second meeting of the India-Japan joint working group on information communications technology (ICT) in Delhi on Wednesday, Prasad said the Indian government has launched a massive programme to digitalise administrative functioning for improving efficiency and delivery of services, which can get a big push from an established ICT player like Japan.

The working group, which was formed in October 2013 to boost bilateral trade in ICT that stands at about 1% of the total trade, is also exploring cooperation in national ID application and utilisation project besides green technologies, cyber security and developing ICT in social and economic fields. Prasad led the Indian delegation while the Japanese side was headed by Yasuo Sakamoto, vice minister for policy coordination (international affairs).

The two sides are working towards joint projects in green mobile base station, cooperative structure for detecting and quick response to cyber attacks, under the Japan India Combat Spam Project, and a proposal for disaster management under ICT, where 100% foreign direct investment is permitted.

The cyber and networks security projects have been proposed by Japan’s internal affairs and communications ministry.

The proposal of developing mobile base stations running on green energy has been proposed by Japan’s KDDI Corporation while the disaster management project has been suggested by NTT Communications, sources said. Executives of Japanese telecom firm NEC Corp also met top officials from the telecom ministry to explore these mega technology joint ventures.