Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC), on Monday organized an inter-ministerial meeting between telecom ministers of ASEAN countries and India in New Delhi. Hon’ble Minister of Communication, Government of India, Shri Manoj Sinha lead the discussions from Indian side with telecom ministers, senior government officials and industry leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Indonesia and Bhutan.

Indian Government has expressed keen interest to partner with ASEAN countries in enabling Digital Connectivity between India and ASEAN region and also for enabling broadband within ASEAN countries. These digital connectivity projects are of strategic importance and can have a transformative impact on the economy and cooperation between ASEAN and India. India has committed to provide financial as well as technological support for projects that could include-high-speed fiber optic networks, digital villages, rural broadband, national knowledge network, secured communication networks and telecom training and skill development.

“To take the telecom revolution in India to its new level of growth, the domestic equipment manufacturers should come forward and take the lead. Today, such a concerted move will also fulfill the government’s vision of Make in India and bring in significant indigenization which is the need of the hour,” said Rajiv Mehrotra, Chairman of VNL.

“The potential of partnership between India and ASEAN in the arena of telecom is significant. There is a huge demand for capacity building which the Indian partners can contribute,” said J S Deepak, Telecom Secretary.

Indian companies who have created world-class products and solutions, which are not only of the highest quality and are also very cost-competitive, are keen to export to customers in ASEAN region, who have similar requirements like India.