The Hindu Business Line : Policy to encourage chip manufacturing on the anvil

THE Union Communication and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, on Friday said that the Government is formulating a policy to encourage chip manufacturers set up units in the country.

Outlining his Ministry's plan for the IT sector in the coming year Mr Maran said that the department of IT would soon release computer fonts in 22 different languages for free use over the next six months.

"We would like to follow the Chinese model where a chip manufacturing unit can be relocated in India for as low as $30 million. We will also offer infrastructure incentives to such companies," Mr Maran said. The Minister is also planning to meet chip manufacturers Intel, AMD and hard disk manufacturer Seagate to invite them to set up manufacturing facilities in India.

Elaborating on the plan to develop fonts in different languages, Mr Maran said that Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) would be piloting the project. "C-DAC has already launched fonts in Tamil language. We are planning to release 550 Hindi fonts by June. This will also have free language translator and software that will allow users to send e-mails and browse the Internet in their own language," Mr Maran said.

Mr Maran said that PC manufacturers have also been roped into the scheme whereby they would pre-load the software in the language of choice before selling the unit. "Microsoft has also agreed to incorporate the fonts in their MS Office package. While the fonts will otherwise be available free of cost, the MS Office version would be charged by the company," said Mr Maran.

On the launch of sub Rs 10,000 PC, Mr Maran said that the financial packages that can be offered to the consumers are being worked out. "Low cost PC and local content will be the main drivers of broadband and Internet in the country. The Government is seized of the matter and is taking action on both the fronts," Mr Maran said.

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