Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel delivered an inspiring address to bolster the semiconductor ecosystem at the inauguration of the Gujarat Semiconnect Conference 2024. Held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, this one-day event was organized by the State Government’s Department of Science and Technology to advance the domestic semiconductor ecosystem. The conference aligned with the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy (2022-27) and Gujarat Electronics Policy (2022-28) and supported the Government of India’s Semiconductor Program.
During his speech, CM emphasized Gujarat’s commitment to advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of establishing India as a global hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. He highlighted the crucial role the semiconductor sector will play in building a Viksit Bharat and stated that the conference was the “Right job at the Right time.”
Patel underscored the importance of a reliable and trusted chip supply chain, citing the Prime Minister’s India Semiconductor Mission aimed at achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) in the semiconductor sector. He proudly noted that Gujarat was the first state in the country to implement a semiconductor policy in 2022 and announced plans for Dholera to become the first greenfield smart city with a plug-and-play facility for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Gujarat will soon produce the country’s first semiconductor chip, embodying the principles of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ He revealed that over 80 percent of potential semiconductor investors are keen to set up their units in Gujarat and assured that the state government is committed to providing necessary support and assistance.
Chief Secretary of Gujarat Raj Kumar stated that Gujarat is emerging as a semiconductor hub due to its industry-friendly policies. He highlighted the state’s efforts in developing Dholera as a semiconductor center and mentioned several MoUs signed with leading organizations to enhance the semiconductor ecosystem in Gujarat.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of Central Electronics and Information Technology, praised India’s significant strides in semiconductor investments over the past year, with Gujarat at the forefront. He mentioned the central government’s allocation of approximately ₹76,000 crore in subsidies for semiconductor sector investments and the role of state governments in supporting these efforts.
Gurusharan Singh, Senior Vice President of Micron, lauded Gujarat’s pivotal role in establishing India as a semiconductor hub. Randhir Thakur, CEO of Tata Electronics, announced an $11 billion investment to set up a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Dholera, which is expected to create over 20,000 jobs and include India’s first AI-enabled, state-of-the-art Fab.
Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Tube Investments, emphasized the semiconductor sector’s significance in realizing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Mr. Homer Chang, Director General of TECC, noted India’s rapid advancements in the semiconductor sector under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, with Gujarat playing a crucial role.
Mona Khandhar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the conference’s potential to create additional opportunities in the semiconductor sector for both India and Gujarat. The conference featured eight technical sessions addressing key areas within the semiconductor industry.
The event was attended by J.P. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department; Manish Gurwani, M.D of Gujarat State Electronics Mission; senior officials from the Science and Technology Department; and representatives from leading semiconductor manufacturing companies.
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