Dholera to be at centre of Gujarat’s proposed semiconductor ecosystem

With a major semiconductor manufacturing plant already in the pipeline, the Gujarat government has reaffirmed that Dholera will play a central role in the state’s proposed semiconductor ecosystem. The announcement aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

Speaking at the SemiConnect Conference 2024, Gujarat’s Principal Secretary for Science and Technology, IAS Mona Khandhar, welcomed global investors and industry partners and highlighted that Gujarat has already developed supporting facilities for semiconductor industries in Sanand, with similar and enhanced infrastructure planned for Dholera.

The conference was attended by key stakeholders from across the semiconductor ecosystem, including representatives from Tata Electronics, Micron, Tube Investments, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) of Taiwan. The event focused on strengthening collaboration between government and industry to accelerate semiconductor investments in the state.

Peters Chen of TECC highlighted the growing trade and investment relationship between India and Taiwan, noting that bilateral trade has expanded significantly between 2001 and 2023. He stated that Taiwan’s direct investment in India has reached $4 billion and emphasised Taiwan’s global expertise in semiconductor manufacturing, inviting Gujarat to further deepen trade ties.

Addressing investor concerns, Gujarat Chief Secretary Raj Kumar stated that the government has taken note of key requirements such as clean and adequate water supply, uninterrupted power, efficient logistics, port connectivity, residential infrastructure, world-class educational institutions, and direct international flight connectivity to countries like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

He added that Gujarat is actively developing a comprehensive industrial landscape with dedicated roads, ports, and logistics infrastructure to support the entire domestic supply chain required for semiconductor production.

In his concluding address, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reiterated the state’s strong commitment to building a robust semiconductor ecosystem. He recalled that Gujarat introduced a dedicated semiconductor policy in 2022, following which Micron Technology approached the state within a week for investment.

“We provided Micron with the required facilities in Sanand by taking timely decisions in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India the world’s third-largest economy. Dholera will be developed with the same world-class infrastructure for the semiconductor industry,” the Chief Minister said.