CONTINUOUS investment in digital infrastructure, including data centres and high-speedinternet,alongwithpolicy support, has propelledIndia’s services exports to a “historic” milestone ofUSD 34.31 billioninOctober, acommerce ministry official said. TheofficialsaidIndiahasestablished itself as a global leader in digitally delivered services exports, leveraging its robust IT sector and skilled workforce. Services traded through computer networks, such as the internet, apps, emails,and digital intermediation platforms, have grown exponentially.

 

“India’sservicessector reachedahistoricmilestoneinOctober2024,recording an all-timehighinmonthly exports of USD 34.31 billion, a 22.3 per cent increase compared to October 2023,” the official added. The key enabling factors that are helping the sector’s growth included continuousinvestmentindigitalinfrastructure, such as data centres and high-speed internet connectivity; initiatives like DigitalIndia that have fostered a conducive environment for IT and digitally delivered services; and partnerships with international firms haveexpandedmarketaccess for Indian IT companies, the official said.

 

The country’s digitally delivered services exports have witnessed a remarkable trajectory over the past two decades, soaring from a modest USD 30 billion in 2005 to USD 257 billion in 2023. The growth has been particularly impressive since 2010, with exports nearly quadrupling from USD 20 billion to USD 80 billion by 2014. Thegrowthwasconsistentpre-Covid, reaching USD 191 billion in 2019. However, the pandemic acted as a catalyst, propelling the sector to new heights.

 

“By 2023, exports nearly doubled from the pre-Covid peak, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of the Indian digital services industry in navigating the challenges of the pandemic. This consistent upward trend highlights India’s emergence asa global leader in the digital services sector, driven by factors such as a large pool of skilled ITprofessionals,competitive pricing,andaconducivebusinessenvironment,” the official said. Going by the trend, India’s leadership in the global digital economy is expected to strengthen further, driven by technological advancements and increasing demand for digital transformation services worldwide.