In this interview, in his characteristic forthright manner, Abhijit Iyer discusses both the security as well as the economic dimension of Indo-China relationships. Since Iyer has travelled extensively in China multiple times, he reveals several less known aspects of Chinese society.
He also explains why India is not likely to catch up with China, leave alone match its industrial might because the most elementary requirements for rapid economic growth are missing in India, thanks to ham-handed state policies. Most importantly, he describes the dangers that lie ahead of India when new technologies for mass production take over and western industries shift back home.
Most of us in India are not even aware of the fact the use of 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has moved well beyond prototyping, rapid tooling, trinkets, and toys. Companies such as GE, Lockheed Martin, and BMW are switching to it for industrial production at scale. More companies will follow as the range of printable materials continues to expand.
Thus far, India's political leaders and policy makers have in an ostrich like manner dug their heads deep in the sand and insist on remaining blissfully unaware of the New World that stares us in the phase. In such a situation, is India going to go back to being a poor third world country? If we continue to ignore these challenges, India will be in deep trouble in the years to come.
