Sydney Dialogue

From 17th to 19th November, 2021, the Sydney Dialogue was held. India’s Prime Minister delivered the keynote address on 18th November virtually on the theme of India’s technology evolution and revolution.

About the Sydney Dialogue

• It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
• It aims to bring together political, business and government leaders to debate, generate new ideas, and work towards common understandings of the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging and critical technologies.

India’s Address: Key Highlights

• Cryptocurrencies: The international order should ensure cryptocurrencies do not end up in the wrong hands. India called for taking progressive and forward-looking steps, citing the unregulated nature of the crypto market.
• Space Sector: India’s space sector is open to private investment and the agriculture sector is reaping the benefits of the digital revolution.
  • In 2020, the government opened the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
• Digital Revolution: India highlighted the significant growth in its digital revolution that has redefined politics, economy and society and that the digital age is raising new questions on sovereignty, governance, ethics, law, rights and security.
• Digital Transitions: The following digital transitions were highlighted by India:
  • India is building the world's most extensive public information infrastructure. Over 1.3 billion Indians have a unique digital identity.
  • India is transforming people's lives by using digital technology for governance including empowerment, connectivity, delivery of benefits and welfare. Industry and Services are undergoing a major transformation.
  • India has the world's third-largest and fastest-growing startup ecosystem. New unicorns are coming up to provide solutions to everything from health to national security.
  • India is investing in developing indigenous capability in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G. India is one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence (AI). The country is also developing strong capabilities in cloud platforms and cloud computing.