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ICD Objectives & Activities

The International Cooperation Division (ICD) of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been set up to promote international cooperation in the emerging and frontier areas of ICT under bilateral, multilateral and regional frameworks.

Amid the fast-changing global geopolitical landscape, MeitY has been continually synergizing its efforts to expand Indian IT/ITeS sector globally and evolve strategic cooperation with potential foreign partners in various emerging and frontier areas of ICT through the umbrella of bilateral and multilateral frameworks of cooperation.

Technology is meant to be the great equalizer, however in midst of exemplary growth shown by many countries it is also equally true that almost a large number of global population still does not have access to basic digital services. India with its extensive experience in addressing the digital divide is facilitating a number of emerging economies by extending technical assistance in areas of IT infrastructure, networking, capacity building, HRD, Internet Governance and Digital Governance.

Objectives:

  • Bilateral cooperation with countries through MoUs/ MoCs/ JDIs, JWGs, projects through MeitY Societies, G2G and B2B collaborations
  • Multilateral cooperation on techniclal and ICT policy issues under international bodies/institutions and multilateral forums such as UN and its associated bodies, G20, G7, BRICS, SCO, WTO, UN-ESCAP/APCICT, BIMSTEC, World Bank, ADB, Commonwealth, IPU, ITU, ASEAN, SAARC, OECD, IPEF, QUAD, WEF etc. to safeguard and promote India’s interest
  • Prepare and present India’s/ MeitY’s position on important and critical ICT and Digital Economy issues including cross-border data flows, data privacy and protection, mobility of Indian IT professionals, emerging technologies (AI, Blockchain, IoT, etc.), resilient and trustworthy supply chains across all bilateral and multilateral platforms
  • Negotiate Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), particularly related to Digitalization, Trade in Goods & Services in the IT/Software and electronic sector
  • Fostering, encouraging and promoting joint R&D and ICT projects through Centres of Excellence, Technology Parks etc.
  • Effective portrayal of India’s/ MeitY’s position on important and critical issues of contemporary ICT narrative through active worldwide participation international trade fairs, conferences, symposiums, exhibitions etc.
  • Showcasing India’s ICT strength to the globe by organizing, sponsoring and participating in trade fairs, symposiums and exhibitions and sharing of expertise in digital transformation

Activities:

The Ministry has active Government-to-Government engagements with many countries under bilateral and multilateral cooperation. These are facilitated through MoUs, Agreements, Declarations, Communique and Joint Working Groups to identify common grounds, priorities and action plans for active collaboration in the ICT domain.

  • Memorandums of Understanding (MoU): The purpose of MoUs is to accelerate cooperation with the participating nations and further develop bilateral relations. The scope of cooperation envisaged in MoUs includes promoting the development of IT/ ITeS, e-commerce services, HRD, R&D, Digital Governance and exploring offshore markets. MeitY has concluded a number of MoUs in ICT and Cyber Security areas. Currently MeitY has more than 35 active MoUs/agreements/Joint Declarations of Intent in ICT/ Cyber Security. All active MoUs/Agreements/Joint Declarations of Intent in ICT are monitored and implemented through regular Joint Working Groups (JWGs)/IGCs.

  • Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings: JWG meetings are critical to enhance government-to-government and industry-to-industry participation from the participating sides. These Working Groups broadly deliberate in areas like ICT policies and strategies, cyber security, software parks, global workforce mobility, emerging tech areas and telecom and media related issues for continual exchange and collaboration.

  • Ministerial Declaration/ Statements: As an outcome document, ministerial declarations/ statements are adopted to strengthen the cooperation on various issues of ICT and Digital Economy.

  • Industrial promotion: Industrial promotion agreements create conducive conditions for fostering and protection of investments in prospective countries.

  • International Projects: International Projects are being initiated and implemented with the objective of developing new products for emerging markets in ICT applications. As part of the initiative a number of Centres of Excellence has been developed in developing and least developed countries.