Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking at the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence, emphasized India's ambition to become not just a leader in technology services but also a major technology creator in the AI era. He highlighted India's strides in AI development, including the creation of foundational AI models, the launch of a 14,000-GPU common compute facility, and the push for self-reliance in chip manufacturing. He also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in fostering innovation and ensuring technology is democratized rather than monopolized.
Vaishnaw also addressed India's commitment to sustainability, citing the country's 45% non-fossil fuel power generation capacity and its goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. On global trade, he expressed confidence that India's pragmatic approach to geopolitics would strengthen its position, especially in its trade relationship with the U.S. Regarding the railway sector, he highlighted significant advancements such as electrification, safety improvements through technology, and the rapid development of new infrastructure. Finally, he called on corporate India to invest in product innovation, particularly in foundational AI models, mobile OS development, and manufacturing, assuring government support for such initiatives.