TIndia, a nation of a billion people, is well on the way to becoming one of the three largest economies of the world. But there is another reality. India’s average gross national income per capita at $750 is nearly 20 per cent lower than that across all 53 African nations.
There is, therefore an urgent need to bridge the chasm between India’s potential and its realisation. This is important not only for India; it is equally critical for the world. An Indian transformation will be the forerunner of a fundamental global change in terms of reducing regional disparity and, also, in transforming the quality of life of the people all over because one out of every six human beings on this planet lives in this country.
To realise this vision, India must do several things on a priority basis. However, on top of my agenda is the need to integrate technology with every aspect of our economy and make it a major tool of addressing our social problems.
Global economic superpowers are technology leaders. About 28 per cent of the GDP of USA is contributed by technology sectors. Extensive use of technology can bring about transformation in several spheres in India also. For example, technology can help improve agricultural productivity significantly. I am convinced that agriculture has the potential to re-emerge as a strong engine of economic growth and social development. Farmers in India are subject to the highest risks in the economy.
They face climatic uncertainties, have no dependable assurances about off-take of their output, get poor prices for produce, are subject to market manipulation, have to do with poor availability and poor quality of inputs and, above all, pay among the highest costs for private financing. Unfortunately, they have to follow a model based on low value crops, low investments, low yields and low revenues. They use resources sub-optimally, whether it is land, water, crop nutrition and crop protection. This is an irony. Because India has the highest proportion of arable land, as compared to most countries, notably USA and China. Indeed more than 30 per cent of Asia’s irrigated land is in India.
India has the potential to enhance agricultural production by over ten times. Israel produces US $5.8 million in agriculture output per square kilometre of arable land. India produces just US $88,000.
Technology can also transform Indian society. It can help atomise power to the individual level. True power lies in the ability of every individual to influence and shape his or her destiny. The world, in my view, will move from power among groups to power within an individual. Technology will bring about this transformation. Technology can enable every individual to choose, communicate, collaborate and create.
Man’s expedition to new frontiers is eternal. The quest to gain new insights is infectious. Such infective inquisitiveness can be increased by extensive education, awareness and earnings, specially by lifting those at the bottom of the pyramid. There are many frontiers barely explored — the ability to alter the form, duration and quality of life, the untapped power of the mind, the mysteries of the universe and the secrets of ocean depths. Technology can help India and Indians seek new frontiers.
India must focus on a defining set of transformational technologies. To my mind, special focus is needed in areas of modern medicine, alternate energy, networked communications, public transportation, performance materials, biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics and automation and aerospace.
Locations of centres of innovation in the private sector, higher public spend on research and pursuit of research by leading companies will bring about greater innovation in India.
India must be an innovation powerhouse if it wishes to be a global economic power. India must place technology in the highest quadrant of her development agenda.
(Mukesh Ambani is Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited)
