PM Modi invites American chip maker Micron to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited American chip maker Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India as the country provides competitive advantages in various parts of the product's supply chain.

He also invited Applied Materials to India for development of process technology and advanced packaging capabilities.

Modi, in a meeting with President and CEO of Applied Materials Gary E Dickerson, discussed the potential of the company's collaboration with academic institutions in India to create a skilled workforce.

"The prime minister invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India," a ministry of external affairs statement said.

Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, after meeting Modi, said,"We look forward to greater opportunities in India. Micron is a global leader in memory and storage, and we are a supplier for memory and storage in all end markets from data centres and smartphones to PCs, and today really fuelling the AI engine as well."

Following his meeting with the prime minister, Dickerson said it is time for India to drive incredible growth. "We are very much looking forward to working together with the prime minister and everyone of India to achieve tremendous success together," he said.

During his meeting with CEO of General Electric H Lawrence Culp, Modi invited the company to play a greater role in the aviation and renewable energy sector in India.

"Prime minister appreciated GE for its long-term commitment of manufacturing in India. The prime minister and Mr. Culp Jr discussed GE's greater technology collaboration to promote manufacturing in India," it said.

India is promoting semiconductor development and has announced a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for that.

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Global companies are exploring India as a viable investment destination for semiconductors. The country is positioning itself as among the most attractive destinations in Asia for electronics and semiconductors.

The Indian semiconductor market was valued at $27.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of nearly 19 % to reach $64 billion in 2026. But none of these chips are manufactured in India so far.

Setting up semiconductor units, also known as fabs, is a highly specialised, complex and expensive task. Fabs call for complex technology, are high risk and require long gestation and payback periods.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington from New York where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters earlier in the day to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, attended by UN officials, diplomats, and prominent personalities.

He is visiting the US at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.