But, says Infosys chairman NR Narayana Murthy, Indian expertise in software and information technology (IT) will inevitably lead to development of Indian consumer products in the computer business.

Murthy was speaking at a meeting between Indian and British CEOs at India House in London. "I think it's going to happen," he said, but not immediately. "In every country one sector takes off first," he said. "Think of the hardware business in Thailand, the financial sector in Singapore."In India the software development business has already created 400,000-600,000 jobs, Murthy said. These are only early stirrings. Murthy sees Indian software business peaking quickly at annual exports of $85 billion, "creating five million jobs in the process." And also spinning off Indian expertise into making computers for the home.

Murthy said that development would come from experts with considerable disposable income. Infosys, he said, has 3,500 employees with more than a million rupees income each through stock options and 500 employees with more than a million dollars each through these options.

At the moment, he said, it is right for Indian IT business to "concentrate on our strengths rather than worrying about our weaknesses". But this is certain to enhance confidence in other related sectors where Indian experts could become world leaders.

Murthy did not venture to say when household PCs would be designed and made in India, but his message was confident: "Watch this space".

-- India Abroad News Service