Sales of IT hardware may decline as government expenditure is cut
IT硬體的銷售量可能因政府開支削減而下降。
The government will cut back on IT procurement spending in the wake of the upcoming general elections, which will affect sales of laptops, desktops, and other IT hardware in the first half of 2024, industry analysts told ET.
According to statistics from market research firm International statistics Corporation (IDC), sales of IT hardware in the commercial segment are predicted to remain flattish in the first half of the year at levels of roughly 2.9 million units, which was already rather low.
According to IDC, there could be a 24% decrease in this market as compared to the first half of 2022. According to IDC predictions, consumer sales could decline by 17% to 3.4 million units in the second half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2022.
Government to provide over 100 colleges with cutting-edge tools for chip design
政府將為100多所大學提供先進的晶片設計工具
The government is reportedly providing electronic design automation (EDA) tools from Siemens EDA, Synopsys, and Cadence to over 100 institutions as part of its endeavor to cultivate talent for the semiconductor industry.
Chip design software company country leaders told ET that training with these tools guarantees students are prepared for the workforce when they graduate.
Siemens and the IT ministry have been collaborating to create an EDA tools grid as a component of the chip startups’ design-linked incentive scheme. Similarly, to address labor shortages and develop talent for the semiconductor sector, Synopsys has worked with IIT Bombay, Indian Institute of Science, and Jadavpur University under the Synopsys Academic & Research Alliances (SARA) project. Cadence’s suite of EDA solutions is also available to 350 engineering universities in India.
小編點評：政府的倡議是向100多所大學提供西門子EDA、Synopsys和Cadence等公司的先進晶片設計工具，旨在加強半導體行業的人才培養。這些公司與教育機構之間的合作將確保學生接受相關培訓，解決勞動力短缺問題，提高畢業生就業準備能力。
Manufacturing of mobile phones surges 21 times to Rs 4.1 lakh cr in ten years: ICEA
據印度電子與手機協會（ICEA）數據，手機製造業的產值在十年內增長了21倍，達到4.1萬億盧比
The value of mobile phone manufacture in India has increased 21-fold to Rs 4.1 lakh crore in the last ten years, according to a statement from industry association ICEA. This growth has been attributed to government policy initiatives like PLI, which have attracted international companies to support local production.
97% of India’s demand for mobile phones is currently met locally, while 30% of the country’s total production in the 2024 fiscal year is slated for export, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association.
As per a manufacturing note, Apple and Samsung have significantly contributed to the increase in mobile phone exports from the nation.
In addition to South American and Middle Eastern markets, the paper stated that India is a major exporter of gadgets to the UK, Netherlands, Austria, and Italy.
小編點評：在過去十年中，印度手機製造業的價值增長了21倍，達到了4.1萬億盧比，這主要受到政府政策（如PLI）的推動。97%的本地需求在國內得到滿足，而30%的產量則用於出口，印度的手機製造業正在經歷著顯著的增長，蘋果和三星等公司在增加出口方面做出了顯著貢獻。
EFTA and India establish a $100 billion free trade agreement to encourage investment
EFTA（歐洲自由貿易聯盟）和印度簽定價值1000億美元的自由貿易協定
A free trade agreement was signed by India and the four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to support exports and investments in important domestic services sectors including IT, audiovisual, and skilled labour mobility.
According to the agreement, the $100 billion investment promise made by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is dependent on a number of conditions, including a projection that India’s annual nominal GDP growth clocks at a 9.5% rate in dollar terms over the next 15 years.
The official text of the deal with the bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein notes that India can rebalance concessions if the committed foreign direct investments (FDI) do not come in, but only “temporarily”.
小編點評：印度與歐洲自由貿易聯盟（EFTA）簽署了一份重要的自由貿易協定，旨在促進出口和投資，特別是在重要的國內服務行業，如IT技術和技術勞工流動方面。根據協議的正式文件，EFTA承諾投資1000億美元，但要求印度在未來15年中保持年度名義GDP以美元計的增長率為9.5％，如果承諾的外國直接投資暫時未能實現，印度將有權調整優惠。
Cabinet approves more than ₹10000 crore to expand India’s AI sector
印度內閣批准超過1,000億盧比的資金，以擴大印度的人工智能產業
The union cabinet approved the comprehensive national-level IndiaAI Mission on March 7th, with a budget outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore, as part of a drive to “Make AI in India” and “Make AI Work for India.”
The goal of the IndiaAI Mission is to create an ecosystem that would promote innovation in AI by partnering with both the public and private sectors on critical initiatives.
It will promote the responsible, inclusive growth of India’s AI ecosystem by democratising computing access, enhancing data quality, creating indigenous AI capabilities, drawing in top AI talent, facilitating industry collaboration, offering startup risk capital, guaranteeing socially significant AI projects, and supporting ethical AI.
India Semiconductor Mission: Govt to boost outlay to draw in more global chip manufacturers
印度半導體任務：政府將增加撥款以吸引更多全球晶片製造商
Increased funding is the goal of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) for the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), a newly established autonomous enterprise under Digital India Corporation. The mission now has ₹76,000 crore in financing.
According to the top official, the government plans to try to establish two or three more semiconductor fabrication (fab) facilities in the country during the next two to three years.
The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was initiated by the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, with a ₹76,000 crore budget allocated for semiconductor production, packaging, and design units. The selected applicants can receive up to 50% of the project cost in fiscal support under this plan, on a pari-passu basis.
小編點評：印度電子資訊科技部（MeitY）旨在加強印度半導體任務（ISM），將其資金增加至76,000億盧比，並計劃在未來兩到三年內建立兩到三個半導體製造設施。ISM於2021年在納倫德拉·莫迪總理的領導下啟動，旨在通過向選定的申請者提供高達成本50％的財政支持來支持半導體生產、封裝和設計廠。
8% of the global market to be dominated by Indian SaaS goods by 2028
印度SaaS產品將在2028年佔全球市佔率8%
Indian SaaS startups are expected to take up 8% of the global market share by 2028, according to a report by 1Lattice and Sorin Investments. Presently, 6% of the worldwide market is occupied by Indian SaaS goods.
The Indian SaaS market is expected to grow to $37 billion by 2028, according to the analysis. The report does point out that it might take up to four years to achieve the next 2% increase in global market share. Additionally, efficiency and content-based marketing strategies are becoming the main priorities of Indian SaaS enterprises.
The current global market share of Indian SaaS products remains at 6%, but some domestic software firms are considering the US and Europe markets for their go-to-market strategy.
MediaTek to concentrate on premium smartphones using the newest 5G chipsets
聯發科將專注於研發高端智能手機所需的5G晶片組
With its most recent 5G chipsets, Taiwanese chip manufacturer MediaTek will focus more of its attention on the rapidly expanding premium category in the Indian smartphone market.
The chipmaker has over 15 design wins in the first quarter of 2024 and is collaborating with Android phone makers. The company offers a wide range of chipsets that cater to different market sectors, including flagship, mid-tier, and mainstream models. Its successful market penetration strategy has been aided by the chipsets’ superior quality and innovative features.
Prior to progressively shifting its focus to the high-end and premium market, MediaTek was mostly active in the entry-tier and mid-range categories.
https://www.projectstoday.com/News/MediaTek-to-focus-on-premium-segment-in-chipsets
小編點評：台灣晶片製造商聯發科正將重心轉向印度市場的高端智能手機，利用其最新的5G晶片組。在2024年第一季度取得超過15個設計獎項並與安卓手機製造商合作後，聯發科旨在利用其優質的晶片組和創新功能，打入高端市場，在此之前其主要鎖定市場為入門級和中階市場。
Modifications to the Space Sector’s FDI
太空產業FDI政策修正通過
The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on the space sector was amended, and the Union Cabinet approved it. The satellites subsector has now been divided into three distinct activity areas, each of which has set restrictions on foreign investment.
According to the current FDI policy, FDI is only allowed in the establishment and operation of satellites with government clearance. By establishing liberalised FDI thresholds for a range of sub-sectors and activities, the Union Cabinet relaxed the FDI policy on the space sector in accordance with the goals and strategy outlined in the Indian Space Policy 2023.
The space sector is eligible for 100% FDI under the revised FDI policy. The modified policy’s relaxed entry requirements are meant to entice prospective investors to fund Indian space enterprises.
小編點評：內閣批准了對太空產業外商直接投資（FDI）政策的修改，將衛星子產業劃分為三個明確的活動領域，並對外國投資設定了限制。通過放寬FDI門檻並使其符合100%的FDI資格，修改後的政策旨在吸引投資者，促進印度太空企業的增長，並與印度2023年太空政策方向維持一致。