Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’ programme and laid the foundation stone for three semiconductor projects worth about INR 1.25 lakh crore (USD 15 billion) via video conferencing on Wednesday (March 13, 2024).
The facilities are: Semiconductor fabrication facility at the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), Gujarat; Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility at Morigaon, Assam; and the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility at Sanand, Gujarat.
Addressing the occasion, the prime minister said that today’s historic occasion was a significant step towards a bright future for India as foundation stones were laid for three major semiconductor manufacturing projects worth about INR 1.25 lakh crore in Dholera and Sanand in Gujarat and Moregaon in Assam.
“Today’s projects will play a key role in making India a semiconductor hub,” PM Modi said, as he congratulated the citizens for the key initiatives. He noted the virtual presence of semiconductor industry players from Taiwan and expressed excitement for today’s occasion.
The Prime Minister noted that more than 60,000 colleges, universities and educational institutes were connected with the event.
Modi termed today’s programme as the event of the dreams of the youth of the nation as, he said, they were the real stakeholders of the future of India.
The youth were witnessing how India was working in a multi-pronged fashion for self-reliance and a strong presence in the global supply chain, he said. “Self-confident youth change the destiny of the nation,” PM Modi added.
Noting the centrality of electronic chips in the technology-driven 21st century, the prime minister said that Made in India and Designed in India chips would play a major role in taking India towards self-reliance and modernisation.
After missing out on the first three industrial revolutions due to various reasons, India was now moving with an intention to lead Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, he said.
Stressing upon the need to utilise every second, Modi presented the event as an example of the speed with which the government was working. Explaining the sequence of the strides made in the semiconductor field, the prime minister talked about the announcement of the semiconductor mission two years ago and how, within a few months, the first MoUs were signed and now the foundation stones for three projects were laid.
“India commits, India delivers, and democracy delivers,” said PM Modi.
Focus on tech space, nuclear and digital power in India
In his address, the prime minister underlined that only a handful of nations in the world were manufacturing semiconductor chips today and he emphasised on the need for a reliable supply chain after the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
He stated that India was keen to play a crucial role in this and highlighted the country’s tech space, nuclear and digital power.
Elaborating on the future plans where India was primed to take on commercial production for the semiconductor sector, the prime minister said, “The day is not far when India will become a global power in the manufacture of products for the semiconductor sector.”
He emphasised that India would gain a strategic advantage in the future for policy decisions taken today, as he mentioned encouraging Ease of Doing Business and simplification of laws.
In the past few years, the prime minister informed the audience, more than 40,000 compliances had been abolished and rules for FDI had also been simplified. FDI policies in defence, insurance, and telecom sectors were liberalised.
PM Modi also touched upon India’s growing position in electronics and hardware manufacturing, where PLI (production-linked incentive) schemes have been provided for large-scale electronic and IT hardware manufacturing and electronic clusters created, thereby giving a platform for the growth of the electronic ecosystem.
The prime minister said that India was the second largest mobile manufacturer in the world today.
Semiconductor research in India will benefit the youth the most
Highlighting the initiation of India’s Quantum Mission, the establishment of the National Research Foundation to encourage innovation, and the expansion of India’s AI Mission, the prime minister said that India was moving in the direction of technology advancement, apart from technology adoption.
Semiconductor research would benefit the youth the most, he said. Touching upon the application of semiconductors in a vast range of industries, the prime minister said, “Semiconductor is not just an industry, but it opens a door filled with boundless potential.”
PM Modi also pointed out the huge presence of Indian talent in global chip design and manufacturing.
He stated that the youth of today were well aware of the opportunities being created for them, be it space or mapping sector and mentioned opening up these sectors for the youth.
He credited the unprecedented incentives and encouragement for India becoming the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, and said that today’s occasion would create new opportunities for startups in the semiconductor space.
The prime minister expressed confidence that the projects of today would provide numerous advanced technology jobs for the youth.
PM Modi praises language application of Artificial Intelligence
The prime minister also highlighted the emergence of AI, and gave the example of his addresses being translated into multiple languages in a short time.
He lauded the youth of India for taking the initiative of spreading the prime minister’s message across the country in various Indian languages. “Youth of India are capable and they need an opportunity. The semiconductor initiative has brought that opportunity to India today,” said Modi.
Concluding the address, the prime minister exhorted everyone to strengthen India’s progress and said, “Modi’s guarantee is for you and your future.”