Telecom exports of Rs 600 Cr signed at TEPC India Telecom 2017

Telecom exports worth Rs 600 crore was signed at TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council) Buyer Seller Meet from 20th to 22nd February 2017. 

This number may become even higher, depending on the success of ongoing discussions on various government-to-government telecom projects in ASEAN, for which government of India has announced Rs 6,700 crores line of credit.  

TEPC event attracted more than 100 foreign high-profile delegates from the information and communication technology (ICT) industry from over 30 countries, including ministerial/official delegations from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Malawi.

The main objective of TEPC event was to provide opportunities to Indian telecom exporters, including SMEs and startups, to explore export potential and demonstrate their capabilities to meet the needs of the overseas buyers. 

The buyer seller business meetings was attended by more than 70 Indian exporters and the exhibition saw more than 25 Indian telecom exporters showcasing their products and capabilities. This represented an increase of over 50 per cent compared to last year and demonstrated the growing interest amongst telecom service providers from South-East Asia, Latin America, Africa, Middle East as well as North America, to choose India as a source of telecom products and services.

The India Telecom 2017 event was inaugurated by Manoj Sinha, minister of communications and was attended by  Begum Tarana Halim, minister of post, telecommunications and IT, government of Bangladesh; D.N. Dhungyel, minister of information and technologies, Royal Government of Bhutan, Khay Khun Heng, vice minister (secretary of state), ministry of posts and telecommunication, Cambodia; Preeti Saran, secretary (East), ministry of external affairs, government of India; J.S. Deepak, chairman, Telecom Commission and secretary, DoT; and Rita Teaotia, secretary, Department of Commerce. 

Speaking at the event, Manoj Sinha said, “India is keen to become the preferred partner of ASEAN countries in their digital connectivity initiatives. The Indian government is willing to provide long term financing to ASEAN members for buying Indian products and services.” 

Addressing the telecom conclave, Preeti Saran said, "Enhancing connectivity with ASEAN is a priority for India and this should not only be geographic and physical, but also institutional, digital, economic and socio-cultural." 

J.S. Deepak said, “Indian products are based on state-of-the-art technology that offers the unique advantage of impeccable quality at affordable prices. They are also robust and have successfully worked in difficult climatic and dusty conditions. Indian products are designed to be future-proof,so that they can be easily upgraded and up-scaled to avoid obsolescence and don’t have to be thrown away quickly."  

Rita Teaotia said, “Indian telecom industry is an integral part of prime minister Modi’s vision for Make in India and Digital India and is a priority focus area for our government. Telecom product, services and project exports has the potential to become a leading driver of our high-technology exports.”

Shyamal Ghosh, chairman, TEPC said, “This TEPC event is of great significance to exporters from India. Rapid growth of the sector has fueled the demand for telecom equipment and creates a strong base, on which domestic telecom companies have created innovative, high-quality products and solutions that can serve the needs of both India and other emerging markets”.  

Sanjay Nayak, co-chairman, TEPC and CEO and MD, Tejas Networks said, “From an industry perspective, we see this as a very high impact event, since the attendance of pre-qualified buyers results in over 90% conversion rate and they become customers of Indian products and services.”