India

Abstract

This paper reports on some data and impressions about technology exports (TE) gathered during a field trip to India as the first phase of a longer term study of the acquisition of technological capability by developing countries. It does not attempt to arrive at firm conclusions about the nature of technological development which underlies technology exports. Rather it treats the subjects as follows: (1) it defines TE; (2) it presents the available evidence on TE in the form of industrial project exports, civil construction exports, consultancy exports, direct investments abroad and licensing; (3) it describes the Indian policy environment with respect to TE; (4) it evaluates the evidence dealing in particular with the revealed comparative advantage of Indian technology exporters, their motivation in going abroad and the relationship between technological development and technology exports. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of some broader economic implications of TE for Indian industrial development.