India, Japan pact for cooperation in ICT sector

Dialogue will also look at promoting public-private- partnership in Information and Communications Technology sector to strengthen business ties

India and Japan today entered into a cooperation agreement in the field ICT to focus on areas such as broadband, traffic management and tele-medicine.

The dialogue will also look at promoting public-private- partnership (PPP) in Information and Communications Technology sector to strengthen business ties.

Besides, the two sides emphasised upon the need to develop technology standards and strengthening cyber security.

"In India, we are in discussion for such ties. India has shown interest in disaster mitigation through ICT tools and application of ICT in traffic management, which is used in Japan," Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Vice Minister for Policy Coordination Masahiro Yoshizaki said.

He said India needs to develop infrastructure to make this happen and added that to overcome these issues, cross- functional cooperation is required.

Telecom Commission Member (Technology) Anil Kaushal said: "Today, we signed ICT cooperation with Japan to use each other's expertise in areas that can help common people like tele-medicine, traffic management and so on."

He added: "Japan is very good in broadband. They would like to extend their experience in extension of broadband services in India."

Both the countries will deliberate on ICT issues for two days and after that will work on immediate priorities.

CMAI Association of India President N K Goyal said the industry hopes this partnership would help bring modern, rich ICT equipment from Japan.

"Also we can offer low-cost GSM equipment, IT-based electronic equipment and cyber security to Japan," he added.

CMAI Association is a professional registered association for promotion of Indian IT and telecom sector in India.