US relaxes curbs on computers exports to India

BANGALORE: US President Bill Clinton has relaxed controls for the export of

high-performance computers to several countries including India, which is one of

50 nations on the administration's restricted list, taking into account the

dramatic increases in the capabilities of microprocessors.

Clinton spokesman Jake Siewart said, "We have loosened some requirements

to reflect the realities of today's marketplace." The order was drafted

following an administration review of changes in the computer industry and US

security interests since a 1995 ruling on export controls took effect. ''This

review found that advancements continue in the power and capabilities of widely

available computing systems, reflecting the exponential growth in individual

microprocessor speeds that has occurred since 1995," the statement said.

For India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, the former Soviet Union, Central Europe,

West Asia and much of North Africa, individual licensing levels have been

increased from 6,000 million of theoretical operations per second (MTOPS) to

12,300 MTOPS for military end-users and from 12,300 to 20,000 MTOPS for civilian

end- users.

For most countries in South-East Asia, South and Central America, Slovenia,

most of Africa and South Korea exports of computers without a license will now

be authorized for machines capable of 33,000 MTOPS. Previously the limit had

been set at 20,000 MTOPS.