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U R Rao chides Taskforce for ignoring chip making

He made the comments in Bangalore at an international seminar on computer telephony integration that dealt with the issues of emerging technologies in the

T O D A Y

• Monitor industry • Localised office suite • U R Rao is not happy • TN exports shoot up

industry.

Rao felt it is a pity that the country, which has made rapid advances in the IT sector, does not have any chip-making facility and even the supercomputers being built in the country need to get chips from overseas.

Korea, which entered the sector only recently, has advanced tremendously, he added.

The former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation said, "Information is power. If not available in time, it is history."

On computer telephony integration technology, he said it is sad that not one Indian company has come forward in the field. At least 30 vendors, mostly multinationals, are knocking at the country's doors. If adequate attention is not paid to it, it will be in the hands of somebody from outside, he warned.

He pointed out that the current global computer telephony integration market is worth $9 billion and it would cross $20 billion by 2000.

The country has the necessary skill and capability, but what is lacking is the political and social will to become self-reliant in the IT sector, he warned.

Karnataka Governor Kurshed Alam Khan, who inaugurated the seminar, organised by Telematics India, is confident that India will soon realise its strength in the sector and ensure technology exports.

For insights:

• The chips are down: Immature local industry, anti-nukes sanctions persuade Texas Instruments to cancel $ 1 billion chip plant plan.
• Chopping off chips: Seven scientists are expelled from semiconductor labs in the US. How will this impact India's IT-critical future?
• Designer dreams: MAIT has a blueprint to make India the world's leading centre for IT design. But will it fly?
• An interview with Vinod Dham, the father of the Pentium.
• Texas is in South India: Ankoor, the latest 'digital signal processor' chip from Texas Instruments was designed entirely in India!
• MAIT is wooing Indian designers in the US

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