Q&A with DD (Mark Lyn)
1. The focus
in these meetings has been on digital technologies. The trade ministers believe
new technologies are an important tool for modernization and transformation of
industry and will promote inclusive economic growth... Do you see digital
technologies as the norm or still as a disruptive technology?
A1: Digital technologies are here to
stay. Impact will depend on countries' population/ labor force trajectory. In countries with declining population &
scarce human resources it will result in substitution of scarce labor by
machines (robotics, ML). In India, one
of our comparative advantages is the high share of global working age population.
We can use digital technologies (AI, expert systems) to enhance quality of our
labor force and enhance the productivity of skilled professionals.
2. They talk
of assessing implications, and encourage progressive, safe, equitable, and
sustainable use of disruptive technologies for advancing growth. This is the
new paradigm post-covid world... meeting are also virtual. Comment. (Everything
in the digital economy is relatively new and still disruptive).
A2: India
was lagging in use of e-services. Covid has changed that with fast adoption of
remote marketing, sales, purchase of goods & services. Post-covid we are
likely to close the gap with the leaders, much faster. Caution: Safety security:
Spying, hacking and information warfare. Free, open, Democracies more
susceptible. IBSA vs BRICs
3. Importance of investment in human
resources in line with the changing requirements caused by emerging
technologies... How crucial is collaboration in this field?
A3:
Different levels, different mix of cooperation & competition: Basic, moderate; Need to expand rapidly and
become supplier to the World. Standardization & certification in needed to
make it possible Co-operation in pedagogy very important for & unified
market which Indian talent can supply! Advanced
(AI, ML) Indian resources 3rd behind USA & China. Both
Cooperation & competition will happen, so both aspects must be kept in mind.
R&D cooperation has to be selective & bilateral.
4. Besides
workshops, seminars, and exchange programs... what more can be done to create a
digital business ecosystem to promote like-minded projects and investments/
A4: BRICS can set up study groups on
specialized topics like Hacking and securing domestic digital systems from
international threats.
5. Will new
technologies on their own foster open, fair, and nondiscriminatory trade
environment, and ensure greater participation in global value chains? BRICS is
committed to making efforts to do create such a trade environment?
A5: Digital technologies can help
introduce greater transparency in trade & supply chains and thus promote
competition. However, unregulated, they
can also lead to digital monopolies, which will harm user interests and stifle
innovation. Social media (SM) can also
be used to propagate misinformation that harms the interests of the target. Modern,
professional regulation is needed to ensure competitive environment, which
promotes innovation & safeguards interests if consumers/users.
6. Role of
New Development Bank. India wants NDB resources be utilized for strengthening social
infrastructure(education, health, community housing etc.) besides promotion of
Industrial sector. Importance of increasing scope of the Bank.
A6: Big gaps in funding of Public
goods infrastructures remain – original purpose of NDB (WB, ADB unable to
fill). NDB should continue to focus physical infrastructure,
including hard infrastructure for connectivity, broad band networks, carbon
fiber, satellite receiving stations, satellites. But it could also finance the complementary soft infrastructure needed for the digital economy.
7. BRICS Industry
Ministers agreed to complement each other's strengths and share best practices
and learn from weaknesses... How important is kind of working relationship in
achieving the SDGs together?
A7: Industrial best practices
sharing will help improve the average productivity and competitiveness of the
BRICs economies. It is the foundation of BRICS co-operation! The BRICS can
benefit from China’s experience and must insist that China share its learning.
8. India as chair has global credible
examples. World’s largest bio metric system AADHAR, Success of payment system
UPI, Aarogya Setu & CoWin Apps in covid management. India's digital
footprint... is important as a trend setter?
A8: India is a pioneer in developing
digital public goods infrastructure/soft infra. India must use this to raise
the visibility of Indian private digital companies in the BRICs and around the
World. This can be done by making hem an essential partner in propagating
India's digital foo print. Else we will end up getting praised for one or two
times, while foreign companies run away with the sales and the profits; and use
these to develop more customer friendly & business friendly applications
9.
“Technical Report on Social Infrastructure: Financing and Use of Digital
Technologies” endorsed by Finance Ministers. Report is a collaborative exercise
on how BRICS governments have leveraged digital technologies to improve health
and education sectors. This is a good way to collaborate judging from common
lessons learnt from the pandemic.
A9: There has been a flowering of social
entrepreneurship in India during the last five years. When Covid hit, we were behind the global
leaders in the field of tele-medicine and tele-education. Because of COVID we
are closing the gap quickly, with a focus on the needs of the Indian
population. Indian Govt should help these entrepreneurs expand internationally
and use their expertise to provide education & health services worldwide!
10.
Negotiations on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs
matters has been completed. Will that help in greater trust... and easier
movement of goods?
A10: Yes, that should help
transparency and help improve India's exports, which suffer from non-tariff
barriers (e.g. Agriculture, drugs & pharma).
11. Central Bankers
discussed Financial Inclusion, Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and
Information Security Cooperation. Importance of economic stability in times of
global financial shocks.
A11: such regional co-operation is
useful for dealing with regional shocks, but for global shocks one needs
international co-operation. Can develop payments system for intra-BRICS trade. It can also help
Deal with Non-UN sanctions.