Gandhinagar- Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 'Gujarat Semiconnect Conference 2024' in Gandhinagar on Friday, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the semiconductor ecosystem in India. He expressed confidence that Gujarat will soon produce the country's first semiconductor chip, symbolizing Make in India and self-reliant India. This one-day conference was organized by the State Government's Science and Technology Department at Mahatma Mandir.
Focus on Domestic Semiconductor Ecosystem
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Patel highlighted the aim of developing a domestic semiconductor ecosystem in line with the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy (2022-27) and Gujarat Electronics Policy (2022-28). He noted that India is poised to become the world's third-largest economic power under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.
India Semiconductor Mission
Patel underscored the global need for a reliable and trusted chip supply chain. He praised the Prime Minister's India Semiconductor Mission, which aims to make India self-reliant in the semiconductor sector. Patel also highlighted Gujarat's pioneering role in implementing the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy in 2022 and mentioned Dholera's development as the first Greenfield Smart City with plug-and-play facilities for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
Investment and Subsidy Announcements
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Union Department of Electronics and Information Technology, announced a substantial subsidy of Rs 76,000 crore for investment in the semiconductor sector under the Indian Semiconductor Mission. He noted that Gujarat is leading in securing various investments in this sector. Micron Senior Vice President Gursharan Singh acknowledged Gujarat's decisive role in making India a semiconductor hub.
Tata Electronics' Major Investment
Tata Electronics CEO Randhir Thakur announced a significant investment of $11 billion to set up a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Dholera, Gujarat, expected to create over 20,000 jobs. He revealed plans to establish India's first AI-enabled state-of-the-art fab in Dholera. Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Tube Investment, emphasized the semiconductor sector's vital role in realizing Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'Developed India @ 2047' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
Conference Highlights
Principal Secretary of the State Science and Technology Department Mona Khandhar, in her welcome address, stated that the conference aims to create more opportunities in the semiconductor sector in India and Gujarat. The event included eight theme-based technical sessions focusing on crucial areas in the semiconductor industry. Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department J.P. Gupta, Managing Director of Gujarat State Electronics Mission Manish Gurwani, senior officials from the Department of Science and Technology, and representatives from reputed semiconductor manufacturing industries were present at the conference.
The 'Gujarat Semiconnect Conference 2024' marks a significant step towards making India a global leader in the semiconductor industry, with Gujarat playing a pivotal role in this transformation.
