The Central Government of India has recently amended the Public Procurement 2017 Policy and allowed 100 per cent imports from foreign countries including China
The government of India’s move to amend the Public Procurement 2017 Policy has not gone well with the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (Tema). The policy has allowed 100 per cent imports from foreign countries including China.
TEMA, in a letter addressed to India’s communication’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, has noted the amendments to be against the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The association also said that the policy is anti Atmanirbharbharat and against the domestic industry.
The new rules state that parties can import components from other foreign countries and assemble them here in India. TEMA is of view that multinationals can now become eligible as suppliers to public entites by way of contract manufacturing.
TEMA feels that the new amendments have completely changed the policy. The associations feels that the amendments seem targeted towards making India an assembly only country. The same, as per TEMA, will result in discouraging local R&D in the country.
The new policy, as TEMA sees it, has ensured 100 per cent import of components for the next four to five years. Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (Tepc) said that the amendments can have serious implications on national security.
The new amended Make in India policy has also done away with mandatory testing of test equipment via the India-run Telecommunications Engineering Centre.
