EAM S. Jaishankar Addresses Semicon India, Talks About India's Technological Growth

The minister mainly focused on the semiconductor industry and its growth, along with India’s larger outlook on technological developments through his speech

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the ‘Semicon India’ conference in Gandhinagar on Sunday. The minister highlighted India’s role in critical and emerging technologies in his speech. 

Jaishankar mainly focused on the semiconductor industry and its growth, along with India’s larger outlook on technological developments through his speech, available on the Ministry of External Affairs' website. 

Talking about the semiconductor industry on the last day of the conference, the minister said, “There have been a wide range of global interactions as well on this very subject. Notable among them is the MoU on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership that was concluded between India and the United States during Secretary Raimondo's visit in March 2023 to India. It sought to establish a collaborative mechanism that would represent a productive intersection of America's CHIPS and Science Act and India's Semiconductor Mission.”

Elaborating on the partnership between U.S. and India, he added, “During Prime Minister Modi's State visit to the United States in June 2023, semiconductors was also a focus of the talks with President Biden and his team. As you would be aware, the two leaders chaired a technology round-table with the brand names of industry. The Joint Statement highlighted this aspect of our cooperation.”

Highlighting India’s entry into the Minerals Security Partnership, the minister said, "India's entry as the latest member of Mineral Security Partnership is surely worth noting, given the importance of diversifying and securing supply chains in that area...Even as India's 5G rollout unfolds and starts to gather momentum, it is noteworthy to seek Bharat 6G and American NexG alliance co-lead research...", as per a tweet by the ANI. 

With regard to India’s developmental goals, Jaishankar added, “Most of you know as well as I do the expected growth of the domestic semiconductor market. You are also deeply familiar with the steadily expanding production of electronic products in the country. It is a natural outcome of the journey of India from being the fifth-largest economy currently to the third-largest, which is our current goal. Our strong interest in expanding this aspect of manufacturing is reflected in the Modified Semicon India Programme which provides appropriate fiscal incentives,”, as tweeted by PTI.

Semicon India 2023' is a three-day national-level event focusing on the semiconductor industry, from July 28-30. The program aims to highlight the Indian semiconductor sector and the investment opportunities available in it.