North News
Chennai, January 11
In a significant step for India’s electronics manufacturing sector, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated a state-of-the-art laptop assembly line at Syrma SGS Technology’s facility in Chennai on Wednesday. Located in the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), this new facility marks a major expansion of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, shifting the country’s focus from mobile phones to IT hardware manufacturing, particularly laptops.
The new assembly line will produce an initial 100,000 laptops annually, with a potential to scale up production to 1 million units within the next 1-2 years. Syrma SGS, which operates four manufacturing units in Chennai, is expanding its capabilities with Unit 3 now dedicated to laptop production.
Speaking at the inauguration, Vaishnaw emphasized the need to foster a robust electronic component ecosystem to support India’s growth in the sector. “We must work meticulously to ensure that the electronic component ecosystem is also developed in the coming time,” he said. “This will not only drive a major growth story for India but also align with our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, fostering self-reliance and strengthening our position in the global electronics manufacturing landscape.”
The initiative is part of India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) 2.0 scheme for IT hardware, highlighting the country’s growing prowess in high-value electronics manufacturing. The new assembly line is expected to have a significant impact on both the local and national economies, generating 150-200 specialized jobs in electronics manufacturing by FY26.
Syrma SGS has partnered with Taiwanese tech giant Micro-Star International (MSI) to manufacture high-quality laptops at the facility, targeting both the domestic and global markets. The laptops produced will adhere to international quality standards, showcasing India’s evolving technical and manufacturing capabilities.
India’s electronics manufacturing sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years. The total production of electronics has surged from ₹2.4 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹9.8 lakh crore in 2024. Mobile manufacturing alone has reached ₹4.4 lakh crore, with exports standing at ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2024. As a result, 98% of mobile phones in India are now manufactured locally, and smartphones have become the country’s fourth-largest export item.
Tamil Nadu, a key hub for electronics manufacturing, has been instrumental in this growth. The state boasts over 47 manufacturing units supported by various schemes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Tamil Nadu has also benefited significantly from the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing, with seven of the 27 approved units under PLI 2.0 located there.
The state has also seen substantial support through initiatives like the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS). These schemes have attracted investments worth thousands of crores, driving production and creating thousands of jobs.
Tamil Nadu contributes around 30% of India’s electronics exports, underscoring its vital role in the sector. The state is home to the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Pillaipakkam Village in Sriperumbudur, which is expected to attract investments of ₹8,700 crore and create 36,300 jobs.
The inauguration of Syrma SGS’s laptop assembly line is seen as a pivotal moment for India’s IT hardware industry, reducing the nation’s reliance on imports and positioning the country as a global leader in electronics manufacturing.
