Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021: Pvt participation key to digital, tech transformation: Venkaiah Naidu

Bengaluru: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday called for private sector participation in bringing about a digital and technological transformation in the country.

He said transformation of the system and the nation for the betterment of the people, should be the goal.

"In the coming days, we should encourage more and more on knowledge economy, digitisation, and innovation. Our country is going through the Digital India programme, we have made remarkable progress in the Aadhar transformation, with direct benefit transfer and availability of various government services to the people," Naidu said

After inaugurating the 24th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) here, Venkaiah Naidu said, policies and programmes are decided by the Parliament, but at the end of the day, delivery or reaching out to the people is important, and for that there is need to take advantage of technological advancement and come out with new ideas.

"The government led initiatives are crucial. I would also urge upon for the private sector participation, and I feel it is essential to generate jobs, to create innovative applications, and to bring about a digital and technological transformation in the country," he added.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for IT & BT, Science & Technology C N Ashwath Narayan, Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw were among those present at the inaugural of BTS-2021.

Asia's largest technology event, BTS is organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka and co-hosted by STPI, in a hybrid avatar, for three days starting from Wednesday.

Extending his best wishes to the tech summit, the Vice President said the discussions and deliberations during the three days will definitely bring the value that is needed.

He said, "Bengaluru is a happening place, India is a happening place and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing his attention on transforming the entire system using technology…. IT, BT, do your duty, you will become mighty, that is the message I want to give."

Reminding that the basic philosophy of India is share and care, Naidu said, "We should share the knowledge, share the success stories and experiences, come out with new ideas and new innovations."

He said, ideas and innovations should be to make the progress that is needed, to create knowledge wealth, economic wealth for the betterment of the society and the globe, and for the happiness of the people.

"Come out with ideas, which will bring happiness, by bringing changes in the lives of the people of all sections," he said, as he called on the summit to focus more on agriculture, calling it the basic culture of India and the entire globe.

"Many people depend on agriculture, which is facing turbulence and challenges. Also, with climate change a lot of changes are happening and challenges are coming up….we must come out with new ideas and innovations," he added.