(MENAFN) India's IT exports to the Middle East experienced a 25 percent growth to $359 million in 2003-04 compared to $272.3 million in the previous fiscal year, Gulf News reported.

This includes $149.87 million of IT exports to the UAE, of which electronics and computer hardware represent $99.78 million.

These exports, however, are much lower than those to India's largest market, the United States.

Electronics manufacturing outsourcing business or original equipment manufacturing (OEM) is also driving the growth of India's electronics exports to the Middle East.

India's electronics hardware exports jumped 33 per cent to $18.99 billion in the last fiscal ended last March 21 compared to $14.28 billion the previous year, according to statistics.

Total software and services exports reached $17.21 billion last year, including $12.02 billion in software and related services.

The production of electronics and computer software and services accounted for 7.26 per cent of India's GDP in 2002-03.