We boast of a software industry of upwards of USD 250 billion – 80% of which is from export alone.
As compared to this, China exports software worth just USD 50 billion every year.
Then why do we have to rely on foreign-made softwares and apps for seemingly innocuous tasks?
Why do we have to use American made Google Meet or China made Zoom for video conferences?
We don’t have a local mobile scanning app? Like CamScanner of China.
We don’t have a local video app? Like Tiktok of China.
We don’t have a local chat app? Like WeChat of China.
We don’t have a local browser app? Like UC Browser of China.
We don’t have a local file sharing app? Like ShareIt of China.
And of course, China has its own strong ecosystem of search and social and gaming apps. India has none to speak of.
Our own offerings are few and feeble. Not backed by the big players. More like dabblings of startups who face too formidable a challenge in the entrenched international apps.
Our desi startups seem more concerned with making apps to hail taxis or to send you to a restaurant or to deliver groceries to you.
Our big software players seem to be too comfortable in their own cosy cocoons. Each should be given the project to make one or more apps.
So that Indians don’t have to face the mortification of having to use a Chinese app to make a video call.