IT companies need to be creators of talent, not consumers, says Accenture chief

Accenture in India s Chairperson and Senior Managing Director Rekha M. Menon said that IT companies in India need to be creators of talent and not just consumers.

She said that India's demographic dividend is crucial for us to achieve our aspirations, and that is especially true for India.

The Indian IT sector employs around 50 lakh people, making it the largest avenue for white-collar jobs in India. Menon said that skilling in emerging tech areas should be a priority for companies when asked how the country can maintain its position as a leader in the sector.

Menon spoke about the growth potential of the sector in techade Techade, as PM Narendra Modi wants to propel India towards a path of progress via tech between 2021 and 2030.

She said that to live up to its potential in the tech industry, the Indian technology industry must double down on existing priorities and create new ones. Sustain investments to bridge the skills gap and maintain its lead as a digital talent nation. Menon called for the collaboration of the government to drive the impact of the IT industry at a larger scale, in addition to skilling by companies.

The India Stack, with Aadhaar, UPI, Co-Win and the National Health Stack, has set a high benchmark for using technology to drive impact at scale, according to Menon.

The Indian IT sector contributes nearly 10 per cent to the country's GDP and is one of the biggest exporters of services, making it an important revenue source for the government.

Menon pointed out that technology will help India if the country is ready to capitalise on the opportunity by building the right talent and the right tech.

All strategies will lead to technology, giving a boost to the Indian technology industry. She said that it remains critical to the larger nation-building agenda.

Menon said that the Indian IT and tech industry stands at the precipice of a bright future if it plays its cards right.