Stronger skilling, local manufacturing and retail safeguards needed to strengthen India’s IT ecosystem

NAVIN GUPTA
PRESIDENT, FAIITA

“FAIITA has always stood as a symbol of unity, progress and commitment in the Indian IT ecosystem, and over the past 24 years we have built a strong foundation that extends from metros to Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and deeply into rural India. As the country enters a new era of technological transformation envisioned in the roadmap to 2047, our role as advisors and enablers becomes even more vital. Whether it is cloud, AI, cybersecurity or emerging digital solutions, our mission is to ensure that every new technology reaches the last mile, empowering partners, strengthening local ecosystems and driving national growth. The IT industry proved its resilience during the pandemic when our partners, though not formally recognised as VARs, worked tirelessly to keep hospitals, police networks and critical equipment running. That spirit of service defines us, and it continues to guide the work we do today.

At the same time, the rapid pace of technological change brings urgent challenges— foremost among them being the shortage of skilled technical manpower. Basic software knowledge is no longer enough; India needs trained professionals who understand AI, cybersecurity, cloud operations and next-generation systems. FAIITA is actively engaging OEMs to create structured training programmes for partners and their teams, but I urge the channel community to treat training with seriousness. The future belongs to those who keep learning. Along with capability building, we must also support India’s Make in India movement. I encourage partners to explore small-scale manufacturing, components and locally relevant products. Even if marketing remains difficult, supplying to domestic industries offers meaningful opportunity. Several leaders in our ecosystem have already taken bold steps in this direction, and the potential is significant.

FAIITA continues to work closely with the Government through the IT Ministry, the Commerce Ministry and GeM to resolve industry issues—whether it was the recent ₹3,000-crore camera approval matter or other large-scale policy interventions affecting retailers and MSMEs. As convenience-driven e-commerce expands rapidly, traditional retailers are losing substantial market share, making it necessary to initiate a national-level discussion on protective steps such as a convenience tax. We must safeguard the interests of lakhs of IT retailers and small businesses. Technology may evolve daily, but our commitment remains constant. With collective determination and support from partners across India, we will continue strengthening the IT ecosystem and uphold FAIITA as a benchmark of leadership, resilience and innovation.”