Electronics, Software Exports At Rs 9,025 Crore

The Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) notched up exports worth Rs 9,025 crore in 1996-97, up 42 per cent from Rs 6,375 crore in the previous year.

This represents a 42 per cent growth in export performance in rupee terms and 34 per cent in dollar terms over the previous year.

During the year, the contribution of the electronics and software sector to the countrys total exports has more than doubled from 3.2 per cent in 1992-93 to 7.7 per cent in 1996-97.

Also the ratio of exports to production in the sector has increased from 15 to 28.2 per cent during the same period.

 

Explaining the sectoral growth of the industry, ESC chairman M L Tandon said export of electronic hardware has risen by 33 per cent from Rs 2,400 crore to Rs 3,185 crore.

Telecom and related services saw an increase of 30 per cent as revenues rose from Rs 1,325 crore to Rs 1,727 crore.

Export of computer software and services went up from Rs 2,650 crore to Rs 4,113 crore, a rise of 55 per cent.

Leading software exporters were Tata Consultancy Services (Rs 620 crore), Pentafour Software & Exports (Rs 159.52 crore), Infosys Technologies (Rs 121.37 crore), Tata Infotech (Rs 103.75 crore) and Silverline Industries (Rs 72.02 crore).

While USA and Canada continue to be largest markets accounting for exports worth Rs 2,313 crore, the share of the European Community in total exports of software has gone up by 20.6 per cent to touch Rs 847 crore in 1996-97. Other South Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong contributed 10 per cent to total exports at Rs 427 crore.

ESC executive director R H Naqvi said the total exports of computer hardware and peripherals reached Rs 1,333 crore recording a 38 per cent growth.

Of the total exports, the Tandon group of companies, which is a original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier of Winchester and hard disk drives and head stacks to leading multinational computer companies, recorded exports worth Rs 925 crore.

Unicorp Industries and Altos India notched up Rs 71.12 crore and Rs 65.04 crore respectively.

Exports of consumer electronics have registered a 44 per cent growth reaching Rs 715 crore. Of this, colour and black and white television sets recorded Rs 181 crore against Rs 140 crore in 1995-96, while video cassette recorders and players notched up exports worth Rs 131 crore.

Leading exporters in this segment were Kalyani Sharp, Sony India and Titan Industries with exports of Rs 117 crore, Rs 75.09 crore and Rs 39.56 crore respectively.

Instrumentation and office equipment recorded a growth of 60 per cent with Wipro GE Medical Systems, Hewlett Packard India, TVS Electronics, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co and Bharat Electronics being the top five exporters in this category which includes ultrasound scanners, uninterrupted power supplies and process control equipment and medical equipment.