The North News
New Delhi, September 2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that “chips are digital diamonds” as he inaugurated Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi, vowing to make India a major player in the trillion-dollar global semiconductor market. Addressing industry leaders, start-ups, students, and representatives from more than 40 countries, Modi said the world trusts India’s innovation and youth power. “The world believes in India, and is ready to build the semiconductor future with India,” he said.
Fresh from visits to Japan and China, the Prime Minister recounted his tour of Tokyo Electron’s facility alongside Japanese premier Shigeru Ishiba. He highlighted the global presence at the event, describing it as “a hall filled with aspirations and confidence.”
Modi underlined India’s robust economic performance, pointing to first-quarter GDP growth of 7.8%. “While global economies face headwinds, India has outperformed every forecast,” he said, adding that the country is on course to become the world’s third-largest economy.
Comparing the semiconductor industry to the oil economy of the past century, the Prime Minister remarked: “Oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds. The fate of the 21st century rests in these tiny chips.” He said the global market, already worth $600 billion, could cross $1 trillion in the coming years, and India was well-positioned to claim a significant share.
The Prime Minister outlined rapid progress since the launch of the Semicon India programme in 2021. He said ten semiconductor projects, worth more than $18 billion, are now under way, including plants by CG Power, Kaynes, Tata, and Micron. Commercial chip production in India will begin this year, he added.
Mr Modi said India’s approach prioritises speed and efficiency, with approvals streamlined through a single-window system and new semiconductor parks offering “plug-and-play” infrastructure. He stressed that the goal was not just to assemble or test chips but to build a full-stack semiconductor ecosystem spanning design, manufacturing, and packaging.
Highlighting India’s strengths, he said the country contributes 20% of the world’s chip design talent. He urged start-ups and young entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity, promising support through restructured incentive schemes and the newly launched National Research Fund.
Modi also underscored the importance of critical minerals for digital infrastructure, pointing to India’s work on a National Critical Mineral Mission. He called on states to compete in building semiconductor hubs, saying such competition would strengthen India’s position as a self-reliant, globally competitive technology leader. “India may have started late,” the Prime Minister said, “but nothing can stop us now. Our smallest chip will power the world’s biggest change.”
