India Wants to Be a Semiconductor Leader Within Five Years

India has set its sights on becoming one of the top five global semiconductor producers within the next five years. The country plans to gatecrash the global semiconductor value and supply chains, amidst increasing efforts to reduce reliance on China due to ongoing US-China tensions.  

India intends to position itself as a "trusted value chain partner" across various sectors requiring semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Recent developments underscore India's commitment to its semiconductor ambitions. Recently, Qualcomm inaugurated a new design center in Chennai, aiming to generate 1,600 jobs and enhance wireless technology design capabilities within India. This move is part of Qualcomm's long-term investment in India, which also benefits numerous Indian companies involved in chip design. 

In further significant moves, India inaugurated three semiconductor plants last week, including a key joint venture between Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, aiming to produce India's first semiconductor chip by 2026. 

India is optimistic it can cash in on the global semiconductor market's expansion to a trillion dollars within seven years. Analysts highlight the country’s substantial talent pool and burgeoning manufacturing capabilities as crucial factors that will produce nearly a million more semiconductor engineers.

Major chipmaker Foxconn recently announced plans to invest over $1.5 billion in India, further proving the country's growing appeal as a prime investment location for the semiconductor industry.  

Moreover, the Indian government is actively reviewing semiconductor proposals worth $21 billion, signalingrobust support for the sector's growth and India's ambitious path to becoming a semiconductor powerhouse on the global stage.