Full Breakdown
Modi Uses New Delhi’s “Semicon” Expo to Court Global Chip Investors
By Drooid · · How we work
Semicon Conference Highlights India’s Semiconductor Ambition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a three-day “Semicon” exhibition in New Delhi, showcasing a fledgling domestic chip and electronics ecosystem that barely existed a decade ago. The event gathered more than 600 exhibitors, over 150 speakers and 300 global companies across a 15,000 sqm convention centre, featuring startup showcases and a student hackathon. Organisers presented the expo as a signal of India’s long-term commitment to building a full-stack semiconductor supply chain.
Background: Government Subsidies and Early Wins
India’s push follows a pledge of INR1.9 trillion (US$19.8 billion) in subsidies announced two months earlier to spur local chip and electronics production. An initial US$10 billion fund launched in 2020-21 helped Apple expand iPhone assembly, achieving a 25 percent share of its marquee device’s output in the country. The same fund has enabled Tata Group and Murugappa Group to start chip-packaging and assembly operations, while Micron Technology began memory-chip production. Tata Group is also constructing a fabrication plant in Gujarat slated for early 2028.
Data & Statistics
- $30 billion overall Indian chip-making investment target (government estimate).
- 600+ exhibitors, 150+ speakers, 300 participating firms at Semicon.
- INR1.9 trillion (US$19.8 billion) newly pledged subsidy package.
- $10 billion initial fund supporting early initiatives.
- Tata’s Gujarat fab expected to be operational early 2028.
Official Statements & Responses
Government officials framed the expo as a “charm offensive” aimed at attracting foreign capital and demonstrating that India can host advanced manufacturing. They emphasized that AI applications—from autonomous vehicles to healthcare—are driving global demand for chips, positioning India’s emerging supply chain as essential to future economic growth.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Semicon in New Delhi is Modi’s way of signalling that India has a long-term commitment to growing the chip industry,” — Pranay Kotasthane, deputy director of Bangalore-based think tank Takshashila Institution
The combination of substantial fiscal support, early commercial milestones, and high-visibility events like Semicon underscores India’s strategy to transition workers from agriculture to higher-value manufacturing while seeking a foothold in the worldwide race for semiconductor leadership.