Critical and emerging technologies come up as essential metrics of power, says Jaishankar

Gandhinagar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said it will not be surprising if critical and emerging technologies come up as one of the most important metrics of power, and added that concerns in the CET field are influenced by how market share and production dominance are leveraged in other areas. The questions of who invents and manufactures, market shares, resources, skills and talent pool in relation to CET are becoming increasingly critical in the global arena, Jaishankar said while virtually addressing the 'Semicon India 2023' event organised here.

The minister also said a more self-reliant India will also be more self-reliant in semiconductor production. "It (CET) is an intrinsic element of the knowledge economy that is steadily unfolding. In fact, if you think about it, one of its primary characteristics is how deeply it embeds technologies in a manner that profoundly influence all aspects of our lives," he said in his address on the topic of 'India's role in emerging and critical technologies.'

"If the very nature of our economic and social activities undergo a transformation as a result, then it is not surprising that critical and emerging technologies (CET) should emerge as one of the most important metrics of power," he said. The CET is today an increasingly important subject of conversation with many key partners, Jaishankar said.