Software exports seen at $50 billion by 2008

India is poised to become a leading software exporter in the next five years with its software exports expected to touch $50 billion by 2008.

Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour on Thursday that presently he planned to concentrate more on developing software, as "India is good at it."

However, hardware development also needed support and the government would ensure that, he said.

Replying to supplementaries he said Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, during his recent visit to India, had promised Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) investment and training to 8,000 engineers.

Many

other IT investors had also said they would impart training to Indian engineers.

He said that the last time (in 2000) when Bill Gates came to India, he had given Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) for IT development in schools. The amount had already been given to various schools.

Disputing the statement by a member that Bill Gates was investing in India to stop the 'Chinese company Linux' from entering, the minister said Linux was not a Chinese company but an 'open source' and the government had not stopped any IT company from investing in India.

"It would be good for India if any company invested here for the country's development. The members should not have any objection to that. However, why was Bill Gates investing, only he can tell," Mahajan added.

UNI