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Tata To Start Semiconductor Chips Production From Gujarat, Assam Plants By 2026

By LokMarg 13th March 2024

Tata Group hopes that the commercial production of semiconductors chips at the two plants – in Gujarat and Assam – whose foundation stones were laid on Wednesday, would start in 2026.

“We are accelerating the timeline. Typically, a fab takes four years, (but) our goal is to produce the chip in the calendar year 2026 – hopefully the later part of the year…We have a very aggressive timeline…(in) Assam (unit, it) will be done earlier, we may go commercial production in Assam even in late 2025 and early 2026,” said Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, after the foundation stone laying ceremony, speaking to reporters.

The semiconductor manufacturing plants will also bring with it several job opportunities in Gujarat and Assam and will be a landmark in India’s Atmanirbhar efforts.

“We will create 50,000 jobs in this journey and this is just a beginning. Today our journey to build semiconductor has begun. For the first time India will have capabilities to solve the chips demand in India,” TATA Sons Chairman said.

In India’s endeavour to ramp up its semiconductor ecosystem, three new chip plants – two in Gujarat and one in Assam are being set up- in addition to the under construction chip plant at Sanand in Gujarat. Tata Group is setting up two of these three new plants.

As part of its Atmanirbhar and Make in India plan, the government launched production incentive (PLI) schemes in varied sectors, including electronics, to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain and reduce dependency on imports.

The semiconductor industry in India is still in a nascent stage, with various local and multinational companies intending to tap its vast potential.

The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India was notified on December 21, 2021, with a total outlay of Rs. 76,000 crore.

Tata Electronics Private Limited (“TEPL”) will set up a semiconductor fab in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC), Taiwan, in Dholera, Gujarat. Investment in this fab will be Rs 91,000 crore. PSMC has 6 semiconductor foundries in Taiwan. The capacity of the Dholera unit will be 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM).

Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (“TSAT”) will set up a semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam. With a capacity of producing 48 million chips per day, this facility is being built at a cost of Rs 27,000 crore. Segments that will be covered are automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones.

These units will accelerate employment creation in downstream automotive, electronics manufacturing, telecom manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, and other semiconductor-consuming industries.

“Assam will see a lot of prosperity and a lot of jobs and it will change the face of that part of the world with this specific investment with regard to the capability…,” Chandrasekaran said.

Asked about expansion plans, Chandrasekaran said the focus now is on realising these two units.

“Once we have the production up and running, then we can talk about further expansion at this point in time. I think we should celebrate what we have set out to do fully recognizing that these are difficult projects and we are to keep our heads down and be realistic and ensure that we do a good job in producing the products that are appreciated and supported and meeting the demands of customers,” said the Tata Sons Chairman.

“It is definitely a pivotal moment. It is a very important day. Semiconductor is fundamentally required for anything digital. So, it is very important for India to become a semiconductor nation. I am very glad that Tata Group has been able to establish the first semiconductor fab also the first indigenous assembly unit in Assam,” he added.

During the main foundation laying ceremony, Chairman, TATA Sons, Natarajan Chandrasekaran said that semiconductors are a foundational industry for digital products just like steel is for physical infrastructure.

He noted that chip shortages during Covid realised the important of indigenous manufacturing to fill deficiency, for national security and galvanise indigenous innovation. (ANI)

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AAP, Cong Seal 4:3 Seat-Sharing Deal For Delhi

By LokMarg 24th February 2024

After weeks of suspense and wrangling over the allotment of seats in the national capital ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, INDIA partners AAP and Congress on Saturday announced a seat-sharing pact for Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa.

As part of the agreement reached between the ruling party in Delhi and the grand old party, Congress will contest 3 of the 7 Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while the AAP will field candidates in the remaining 4 constituencies.

At a joint press conference of top leaders of the two parties in the national capital on Saturday, Congress general secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik said his party will contest the Chandni Chowk, North East and North West seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

“As you are all aware, Delhi Lok Sabha has 7 seats. AAP will contest 4 seats–New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi–while Congress will contest 3–Chandni Chowk, North East and North West,” Wasnik said.

The general elections in the national capital will mark the first time since independence that the members of the Gandhi family will vote for another party in the New Delhi constituency, a seat the grand old party has set aside for the AAP.

In neighbouring Gujarat, the Congress will contest 24 of 26 Lok Sabha seats, leaving the remaining 2–Bharuch and Bhavnagar– for the AAP.

“Of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the Congress will contest on 24 while the AAP will field candidates for Bharuch and Bhavnagar,” the Congress leader said.

In Haryana, the Congress will contest 8 of the 9 Lok Sabha seats while the AAP will contest the lone seat–Kurukshetra.

“Of the 10 LS seats in Haryana, the Congress will fight on 9 and the AAP will contest one seat– Kurukshetra,” Wasnik said.

He added that the two parties also reached a consensus on the grand old party contesting the prized Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.

“After a long discussion on Chandigarh, the two parties decided that the Congress candidate will contest the seat,” he added.

As part of the seat-sharing deal, the Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa.

Significantly, the AAP contested previous Assembly elections in Goa but fared dismally.

“It was further decided that Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa,” he said. (ANI)

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Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation

Amul’s Ad Featuring Modi And Govt Initiatives Enthral PM

By LokMarg 22nd February 2024

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which operates the popular dairy brand Amul, in Ahmedabad.

Amul’s entrepreneurial spirit has made it one of the strongest dairy brands in the world.

The prime minister took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion and also unveiled the Golden Jubilee Coffee Table Book. Among the various items that were put up in the exhibition area was a section where Amul showcased a series of its creative ads, featuring the Prime Minister, his party, the BJP, and his flagship initiatives such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and Make in India, among others.

The Prime Minister looked through all the creative ads, with senior officials of Amul accompanying him.

Later, addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister congratulated everyone for the Golden Jubilee celebration of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and said that a sapling that was planted 50 years ago by the farmers of Gujarat has become a giant tree with branches all over the world.

The Prime Minister underlined that even though several brands emerged in India after independence, there were none like Amul.

“Amul has become the symbol of the strength of the Pashupalaks of India”, the Prime Minister said, “Amul means trust, development, public participation, empowerment of farmers and the technological advancements through time.”

Noting that Amul products are exported to more than 50 countries around the world, the Prime Minister highlighted the organization’s achievements and mentioned more than 18,000 milk cooperative committees, a network of 36,000 farmers, processing of more than 3.5 crore litres of milk per day, and online payments to livestock breeders worth more than Rs 200 crores.

He recalled that the origins of Amul lay in Kheda Milk Union under the guidance of Sardar Patel. With the expansion of cooperatives in Gujarat, GCMMF came into being.

He stated that in the last 10 years, milk production increased by almost 60 percent and per capita milk availability has increased by about 40 percent. The Indian dairy sector, he said, is growing by 6 percent per year as compared to the global average of 2 per cent.

The evolution of the dairy sector in India and the stellar role played by dairy cooperatives since the launch of Operation Flood form an integral part of the country’s growth story as the country now is the largest producer of milk.

India contributes about 21 per cent to global milk production.

It is important to note that during the 1950s and 1960s the situation of India’s dairy sector was radically different as it was a milk-deficit nation and depended more on imports.

Following a visit of then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to the Anand district of Gujarat in 1964, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was created in 1965 with a mandate to support the creation of the ‘Anand pattern’ of dairy cooperatives across the country through the Operation Flood (OF) programme which was to be implemented in phases.

Verghese Kurien, widely renowned as the “Father of White Revolution” in India, was the first chairman of NDDB. Along with his team, Kurien commenced work on the launch of the project which envisaged the organisation of Anand-pattern cooperatives in milk sheds across the country from where liquid milk produced and procured by milk cooperatives would be transported to cities. (ANI)

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Tata Group Announces Giga Factory For Lithium-Ion Batteries In Sanand

By LokMarg 10th January 2024

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, made a significant announcement on the inauguration day of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, underscoring the pivotal role Gujarat plays in the Tata Group’s strategic expansion plans.

Chandrasekaran highlighted Gujarat’s emergence as a hub for economic and social development, echoing the sentiment that the state is a gateway to the future.

Chandrasekaran said, “The impact of economic development has also resulted in tremendous social development. Gujarat has clearly established itself as the gateway to the future. For the Tata Group, Gujarat is a very special place. Recently, we have made significant commitments to expand our presence in the state of Gujarat.”

He added, “Sanand is becoming home to all our electric vehicles’ technology. We expanded the footprint in Sanand with additional capacity so that we can meet the growing demand of electric vehicles. We are about to launch the building of a huge giga factory for 20 GWs of lithium-ion batteries in Sanand; the project should start construction in the next couple of months.”

The Chairman went on to reveal recent significant commitments made by the Tata Group to expand its presence in Gujarat, particularly in the domain of electric vehicles (EVs).

Sanand, in Gujarat, is poised to become a center for all Tata Group’s electric vehicle technology.

In a move towards bolstering India’s position in the global electric vehicle market, Chairman Chandrasekaran disclosed the upcoming construction of a massive giga factory in Sanand.

The facility is designed to produce 20 gigawatts (GWs) of lithium-ion batteries, addressing the critical need for energy storage solutions in the electric vehicle ecosystem. Tata group also made a commitment and on the verge of concluding an announcement of a huge semiconductor FAB in Dholera.

“We also are building the C295 defence aircraft initially in Vadodara and then in Dholera & that work is going on in full swing. The Tata Group has also made a commitment and is on the verge of concluding and announcing a huge semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera. We are about to complete these negotiations and start in 2024…” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons said.

The Tata Group’s vision aligns with the broader theme of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, emphasizing sustainable development and innovation in key sectors.

The strategic expansion in Gujarat not only solidifies the Tata Group’s commitment to the state but also positions Gujarat as a significant player in the nation’s transition towards sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.

As discussions unfold during the summit, the Tata Group’s announcements mark a milestone in Gujarat’s journey towards becoming a hub for cutting-edge technology, sustainable practices, and economic growth.

The giga factory project is poised to make Sanand a key player in the global supply chain for lithium-ion batteries, further enhancing Gujarat’s reputation as a preferred destination for advanced manufacturing. (ANI)

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Aim To Make India Developed Country In Next 25 Years: Modi At Vibrant Gujarat Summit

By LokMarg 10th January 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the much-anticipated Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Wednesday and asserted that the goal is to make India a developed country by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence.

Addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar, PM Modi asserted that the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 is the first summit in this Amrit Kaal.

“This is the first Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in this Amrit Kaal. Therefore, this is even more significant. Representatives from more than 100 countries who are participating in this Summit, are crucial partners in this development journey for India,” PM Modi said.

He further said that India is working towards its goal for the next 25 years.

“In the recent past, India completed 75 years of independence. Now, India is working on its goal for the next 25 years. We have the goal of making it a developed country by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence. Therefore, these 25 years’ duration is India’s Amrit Kaal,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that the focus on structural reform was the reason behind India showing high rates of growth.

“We are all aware of the global circumstances. So, in times like these, if the Indian economy is displaying such resistance, if the growth in India is showing such momentum, a big reason behind this is our focus on structural reforms in the last 10 years. These reforms have enhanced the capacity, capability and competitiveness of India’s economy” PM Modi said.

“Today, India is the fifth largest economy in the world. 10 years ago, India was on the 11th position. Today, all major agencies estimate that India will be in the top three economies of the world in the coming years. Let people across the world do their analysis, but it is my guarantee that it will happen” PM Modi added.

Ambassadors, High Commissioners, or their designated representatives, along with esteemed foreign dignitaries, will add to the diplomatic and influential presence.

The inaugural ceremony marks the beginning of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, a platform for fostering economic growth, investment, and international collaboration.

Leaders from across the globe will be participating in the ceremony, contributing to the international flavour of the event.

The summit provides a unique opportunity for networking, dialogue, and the exploration of potential collaborations between Gujarat and various nations.

The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit has gained recognition as a key forum for discussions on economic development, business opportunities, and investment prospects.

The event serves as a catalyst for attracting investments and fostering partnerships that contribute to the growth of Gujarat’s economy.

The summit is poised to facilitate fruitful discussions on a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, technology, innovation, and sustainable development.

As the global leaders converge in Gandhinagar for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the stage is set for constructive dialogues, strategic collaborations, and the exploration of opportunities that will shape the future of Gujarat’s economic prosperity. (ANI)

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Bilkis Bano Case: SC Asks 11 Convicts To Surrender

By LokMarg 8th January 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down the Gujarat government’s order granting remission to 11 convicts who had gangraped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan quashed the Gujarat government’s remission order by which convicts were released pre-maturely.

It asked all 11 convicts to surrender before jail authorities within two weeks.

The bench held that the Gujarat government was not competent to pass the remission orders but the Maharashtra government. It said the appropriate government to decide the remission was the state within whose territorial limits the accused are sentenced, not where the crime is committed or the accused are imprisoned.

The top court held that the judgement of May 13, 2022, by which another bench of the apex court had directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of convicts as per the 1992 policy, was obtained by “playing fraud” on the court and by suppressing material facts.

The Gujarat government usurped the powers of the Maharashtra government acting in furtherance of the judgement dated May 13, 2022, which, in our opinion, is a “nullity,” said the bench.

The convicts had not approached the court with clean hands, said the bench, adding that proceedings before this court were due to “suppression of facts,” and that is why it is fraud played on this court.

The apex court questioned why the Gujarat government had not filed any application seeking a review of the May 13, 2022, order, as it was not the appropriate government.

It was a classic case where the order of the Supreme Court has been used for violating the rule of law for passing orders for remission, the top court said.

The exercise of power by the State of Gujarat is an instance of “usurpation and abuse of power,” said the bench while reprimanding the State government for not filing a petition to review the convicts’ release.

“The exercise of power by the State of Gujarat is an instance of usurpation of power and abuse of power. This is a classic case where the order of this court was used to violate the rule of law by granting remission. On that ground also, the remission orders deserve to be quashed,” it said.

The judgement of the top court came on a petition filed by Bilkis Bano and others challenging the pre-mature release of 11 convicts.

Pronouncing the verdict, the bench said, “We hold that writ proceeding before this court was due to suppression of facts and that is why it is fraud played on this court…”

Earlier, the Gujarat government, in its affidavit had defended the remission granted to convicts, saying they had completed a 14-year sentence in prison and their “behaviour was found to be good”.

The State government had said it has considered the cases of all 11 convicts as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022 and the central government government also approved the release of convicts.

It is pertinent to note that the remission was not granted under the circular governing the grant of remission to prisoners as part of the celebration of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

The pleas filed before the top court had said they have challenged the order of competent authority of the government of Gujarat by way of which 11 persons who were accused in a set of heinous offences committed in Gujarat were allowed to walk free on August 15, 2022, pursuant to remission being extended to them.

The remission in this heinous case would be entirely against public interest and would shock the collective public conscience, as also be entirely against the interests of the victim (whose family has publicly made statements worrying for her safety), pleas stated.

The Gujarat government had released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15, 2022. All 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008.

In March 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara. (ANI)

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Vibrant Gujarat: Rs 67,000 Cr Worth Investment Proposals Signed In Petrochemicals Sector

By LokMarg 23rd December 2023

As many as 11 Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) amounting to a total of Rs 67,000 investment potential were signed at a pre-Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit event held in Bharuch.

The event, ‘FutureChem Gujarat: Shaping tomorrow’s Chemicals and Petrochemicals Industry’, brings under one umbrella policymakers, practitioners, and national and international academicians to discuss future initiatives.

“The way petrol and chemicals are being traded in Gujarat, Gujarat is moving towards becoming the hub of this industry. Therefore, today an MoU worth Rs 67 thousand crore has been signed to further advance this industry,” Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, participating in the event.

The event is particularly focused on the petrochemical sector of the state. Holding the highest share in India’s chemical and petrochemical exports, Gujarat is emerging as the country’s hub for speciality chemicals.

“PM Modi has changed the country and Gujarat through his politics of development… The double-engine government of Gujarat has been getting the benefit of PM Modi’s vision for the last 2 decades… In 2024, we are organising the Vibrant Summit with the theme of ‘Gateway to the Future’… The Chemical and Petrochemical sector is one of the sectors that take sustainable industry growth further,” the CM said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved that there should be industrial development in Gujarat. As part of it, the chemical and petrochemical sector is also being promoted because India is at the 6th position in the world’s petrochemical sector,’ the chief minister said.

The event in Bharuch centred around sustainability, decarbonisation and growth in upcoming segments. Moreover, startups and business leaders will be showcasing industry-relevant solutions and services during the event.

Nationwide, this crucial sector employs around 2 million individuals.

Of the USD 94.6 billion chemical industry in India in 2017-18, USD 31.5 billion was contributed by Gujarat.

Similarly, of the USD 137 billion overall coke and petroleum industry, USD 50.8 billion was contributed by Gujarat.

Gujarat holds a share of 41 per cent of India’s total chemical and petrochemical exports, accounting for 5 per cent of India’s total and 27 per cent of Gujarat’s total exports, respectively.

The state has four refining complexes with a combined capacity of 102 million tonnes per annum.

The top 10 export destinations are the US, China, Brazil, UAE, Germany, Indonesia, the UK, Netherlands, South Africa, and Belgium.

The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was initiated by Narendra Modi in 2003, then chief minister, to put Gujarat on the world map of trade and industry. The tenth edition of the Summit will be held from January 10 to 12, 2024.

The Summit event will be inaugurated by PM Modi on January 10. (ANI)

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Modi Recalls 20-Year Journey Of Vibrant Gujarat Summit

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

While the world is now watching the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, when the event began 20 years ago the then Central government did not extend any cooperation and attempts were made to degrade the state’s image, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

“…Those who ran central government earlier used to link Gujarat’s development with politics. Ministers of then Central government used to refuse to come to Vibrant Gujarat…they used to threaten foreign investors and tried to stop them (foreign investors) from coming to Gujarat…even after so much of threatening, foreign investors came to Gujarat, ” PM Modi said.

Addressing a programme marking 20 years of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Science City, Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister termed the 20 years of the summit as a “key milestone” in advancing the state’s growth.

“When Vibrant Gujarat was started, there were no big hotels in Gujarat where foreign guests could stay. Even govt guesthouses used to get full and we used even University guesthouses…” PM Modi said.

“We not only redeveloped Gujarat but also thought about its future, we made ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ a key channel for this. ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ was made a channel to increase the self-confidence of Gujarat and a channel to speak to the world eye to eye,” the PM said.

Stating that the world is watching the success of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit he said “Vibrant Gujarat is not just a programme of branding but more than that it is a programme of bonding.”

He pointed out that after the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, many states have started their own investment summits.

The event was attended by industry associations, prominent personalities from the sphere of trade and commerce, young entrepreneurs, and students of higher and technical education colleges, among others. (ANI)

Haryana Will Soon Get Benefits Of AAP Freebies: Kejriwal Tells Khattar

By LokMarg 3rd September 2023

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday responded to the remarks of his Haryana counterpart, Manohar Lal Khattar on ‘freebies’.

Speaking about the upcoming Haryana assembly polls in 2024, CM Kejriwal claimed that the Haryana people will soon get the benefit of freebies.

Taking to ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), the Delhi CM said, “Khattar Sahab! We provide free and world-class education and health services in Delhi. We provide free electricity and water around the clock. We have started these facilities in Punjab, too and the public is happy with us. Soon, the people of Haryana will also get the benefit of freebies”.

Earlier on Saturday, Haryana CM Khattar interacted with the beneficiaries of CM’s Pariwar Antyodaya scheme and targetted the Aam Aadmi Party alleging that there are parties that raise slogans like, ‘Get this for free, Get that for free’.

“There are many parties that raise slogans like ‘get this for free, get that for free’… Instead of inculcating the habit of freebies, our government’s priority is to fulfill the needs of a working person, enhance his skills and develop him”, CM Khattar said.

It is worth mentioning that during the Gujarat assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the AAP of resorting to ‘freebies’ and alleged that the latter indulges in ‘Revdi politics’, (freebies politics).

A war of words between the AAP and the BJP emerged during the Gujarat polls when the former, sticking to its pattern of promises, promised government schools, free electricity, access to water, and free healthcare in Gujarat, if voted to power. (ANI)

Global Chipmakers Converge In Gujarat SemiConIndia 2023

By LokMarg 28th July 2023

With a focus on attracting investments in India’s nascent semiconductor ecosystem, the three-day ‘SemiconIndia 2023’ conference kicked off in Gandhinagar on Friday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The conference, its second edition, organised by India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry and industry associations, is aimed to make India a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and technology development. Semicon India was held in Bengaluru last year.

The theme of the Conference is ‘Catalysing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem’.

On the first day of the conference, American multinational semiconductor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced it will invest approximately USD 400 million in India over the next five years.

The planned investment includes a new AMD campus in Bengaluru that will serve as the company’s largest design and R&D centre. It intends to add about 3,000 new engineering roles by the end of 2028 in India.

It started operations in India in 2001 when the company’s first site was established in New Delhi and has now about 6500 employees here.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, PM Modi invited global semiconductor majors to come and invest in India, adding that whosoever comes forward will have a “first mover’s advantage.”

“You have to develop a chip-making ecosystem for Indians. I believe whosoever comes forward will have a first mover’s advantage,” PM Modi said.

“It is not just India’s needs, the world now needs a trusted and reliable chip supply chain. Who can be that trusted partner if not the largest democracy,” PM Modi said.

SemiconIndia 2023 saw the participation of representatives of major companies such as AMD, Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Foxconn, SEMI, and Vedanta, among others.

Ajit Manocha, president and CEO, of SEMI, said he believes India will become the next powerhouse in Asia in semiconductors.

“For the first time in India’s history, geopolitics, domestic policies, and private sector capacity are aligned in India’s favour to become a player in semiconductor production,” said Ajit Manocha, adding that he was excited about the future.

“Throughout my career, I have been asked whether India is ready to be part of the global semiconductor industry. Today I can say – the journey has begun,” Manocha added.

Prabu Raja, president of Semiconductor Products Group at Applied Materials, said he firmly believes this is India’s time to shine.

“…With the strong vision of PM Modi to develop manufacturing, India is poised to play an important role in the global semiconductor industry…We firmly believe this is India’s time to shine…No company or country can overcome challenges in the sector alone. It’s time for collaborative partnerships in this sector. This new collaborative model can provide help us to be a catalyst in the sector…,” Raja added.

During PM Modi’s recent State visit to the US, it was announced that Applied Materials will invest USD 400 million to establish a collaborative engineering center here in India.

“I thank PM Modi for the vision to make India a global hub for semiconductors…Micron is committed to building a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Gujarat. We estimate that our project in Gujarat will create nearly 5000 direct jobs and additional 15,000 jobs in the community. We are hopeful that this investment will help catalyse other investments in the sector…Digital India and Make in India are creating a truly transformative energy that will continue to drive positive progress…,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO, of Micron Technology.

Micron Technology too during PM Modi’s US visit announced its India investment plans. Micron Technology committed that it will invest up to USD 825 million to build a new semiconductor assembly and test facility in India with support from the Indian government.

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu too spoke at the SemiconIndia event.

“I am very optimistic of the way India will be headed,” said Yiu and assured PM Modi that Taiwan “is and will be your most trusted and reliable partner.”

“…Where there is a will there’s a way, I can feel the determination of the Indian government. I am very optimistic about the way India will be headed. PM Modi, once mentioned that IT stands for India and Taiwan. PM, Taiwan is and will be your most trusted and reliable partner…,” Yiu added.

Significantly, Taiwanese major Foxconn recently decided to withdraw from its semiconductor joint venture (JV) with Indian mining conglomerate Vedanta.

A day after it withdrew from its joint venture with India’s Vedanta group, Taiwan-based technology company Foxconn on July 11 said it is committed to India and sees the country successfully establishing a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

On its withdrawal from the JV with Vedanta, it had categorically said both parties “mutually agreed to part ways”, noting there was recognition that the project was not moving fast enough. (ANI)