Electronics, SW exports touch $4.28 bn in 1999

BANGALORE: Indian electronics and computer software exports has registered a 29 per cent increase to $4.28 billion in 1999 as against $3.32 billion in the previous year, despite a sharp 75 per cent drop in hardware exports.

The computer software and services sector achieved an all-time high sectoral growth of 66 per cent in dollar terms to $3.01 billion in 1999 as against $1.81 billion in 1998, according to statistical yearbook on Infotech exports released by Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council. "The export of computer hardware has dropped by 75.3 per cent to $72 million in 1999 from $293 million in the previous year," the report said adding that BPL and Tata Infotech exporting monitors and scanners were the top hardware exporters during the year.

The total export of the electronics hardware goods including video software recorded a 26.4 per cent fall at $596 million in 1999 from $811 million in 1998, mainly on account of the poor performance of computer hardware sector, the report said. The report said that Singapore, Hong Kong and other South Asian countries emerged as the largest market for Indian electronic goods during the year. US and Canada emerged as major software and service export destinations accounting for 61.4 per cent of exports, while Europe contributed 25.4 per cent and Japan, Korea and other far east countries accounted for 4.47 per cent.

During the year, 19 new countries including Malta, Zambia, Seychelles, Albania and Lebanon were targeted taking the total number of countries for exports of software to 85 countries from 66 in the previous year. The companies who topped the software exporters list for 1999 included Tata Consultancy Services with Rs 1518.3 crore, HCL Technologies with Rs 862 crore and Wipro Ltd. at Rs 632.5 crore worth of exports. Other major software exporters include Pentafour, Infosys Technologies, NIIT, Satyam Computer Services, IBM Global Services, DSQ Software and Tata Infotech, the report said. On the performance of the telecom service and project exports, the report said that the sector has registered a marginal growth of 7.6 per cent to Rs 2,800 crore in 1999 as compared to Rs 2,600 crore in 1998. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Telecommunications Consultants of India Ltd. emerged as leading telecom services and project exporters.