By: Bhaskar Pramanik
There was very high expectation from this Budget and I think the Finance Minister has done a good job of meeting many of those. There were five specific priorities that I was looking for to be addressed in this maiden Budget by the new government. These were around ubiquitous use of technology for inclusive growth, enhancing the education ecosystem, promoting a tax regime that is stable and growth-oriented, focus on the startup eco-system and greater impetus to the manufacturing sector. It is heartening to note that the budget has provided the right direction on these priorities.
Through the Budget I saw a huge focus on technology as the backbone for India’s future through an ecosystem of entrepreneurs and global startups. Further, the focus on MSME segment and technology use in SMB is a welcome step.
Overall, I think it is a good start. The government has clearly followed what they had promised in their election manifesto. I see this Budget setting the stage for higher GDP growth on the fundamentals of recovery in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, built on the backbone of future-ready technology.
The writer is Chairman, Microsoft India
