SEMICON India 2024: Global Semiconductor Leaders Praise PM Modi's Vision
At SEMICON India 2024, held at the India Expo Mart, prominent figures from the global semiconductor industry lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision for advancing India’s semiconductor sector. The event showcased India’s burgeoning role in the semiconductor industry, with several key industry leaders commending the strides made under PM Modi’s guidance.
Ajit Manocha, President & CEO of SEMI, opened his address with a sense of awe, describing the scale of SEMICON India as 'unprecedented and exponential'. He praised PM Modi’s leadership, noting, “His leadership has inspired not just India but the entire world”. Manocha highlighted India’s rapid progress in the semiconductor sector and acknowledged PM Modi’s crucial role in initiating this transformation. “We were walking earlier, now we are running... Opportunities are there”, Manocha said, reflecting the momentum of India’s semiconductor advancements.
Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD of Tata Electronics, also spoke highly of PM Modi’s contributions, expressing gratitude for the event and recognizing India’s significant achievements. Thakur pointed out that India has recently approved the establishment of its first commercial fab in Gujarat and an indigenous semiconductor plant in Assam. He emphasized that these projects, which received government approval in record time, have set a global benchmark. Thakur highlighted Tata Electronics’ collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor, which is pivotal in addressing markets such as AI, automotive, and data storage.
Kurt Sievers, President & CEO of NXP Semiconductors, emphasized the importance of collaboration and ambition. Sievers described the event as a major milestone in India’s transformational journey and praised India’s blend of innovation, democracy, and trust, which makes it an attractive destination for businesses. “NXP is here to stay and committed to boosting the semiconductor ecosystem in India”, Sievers declared, reinforcing NXP’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.
Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas Electronics, highlighted Renesas’ partnership with CG Power to establish one of India’s first semiconductor assembly facilities in Gujarat. Shibata noted that Renesas is expanding its operations in India, with plans to double its workforce in Bengaluru and Hyderabad by next year. He praised India’s potential in the semiconductor sector and discussed Renesas’ role in bringing advanced semiconductor technologies to the global market.
Luc Van Den Hove, CEO of IMEC, underscored the importance of a long-term R&D strategy for semiconductor development. Van Den Hove described semiconductor development as a 'marathon rather than a sprint' and commended India’s dedication to semiconductor manufacturing. He expressed IMEC’s readiness to form strategic partnerships with India, stating, “The world needs a reliable supply chain, and who can be a better-trusted partner than the world’s largest democracy”. Van Den Hove pledged IMEC’s support for India’s ambitious semiconductor plans.
The event highlighted India’s growing influence in the semiconductor industry, with global leaders acknowledging PM Modi’s leadership and the country’s potential to become a significant player in the global semiconductor supply chain. The positive reception from these industry leaders underscores the global recognition of India’s advancements and the promising future of its semiconductor sector.
