India’s manufacturing push, back by favourable policies, is timely and positions the country strongly to grab a massive opportunity in the electronics hardware space amid COVID-induce supply chain disruptions and global trust deficit around China, according to HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry.
Ajai Chowdhry, who is part of the IT ministry-constitute advisory panel of experts that will steer objectives and provide guidance on the semiconductor programme, exuded confidence that India can emerge as a “reliable partner” for the world when it comes to hardware production and chip-making.
The policy push around manufacturing has set a fertile ground for transforming the country into a global powerhouse for electronics and semiconductor production, Ajai Chowdhry believes.
Ajai Chowdhry Said to PTI :
India needs to now move swiftly to grab the opportunity, and position itself as an alternative to China for semiconductors and hardware.
Ajai Chowdhry Said :
Globally, the recurring waves of COVID and geopolitical implications of the Russia-Ukraine war have cast uncertainties over the costs and supply chains, but this has also delivered an unexpected “tailwind” for manufacturing.
Ajai Chowdhry Said :
Ajai Chowdhry is one of the six founders of HCL.
For the last five decades, Ajai Chowdhry has been at the forefront of building the electronics industry in India.
Ajai Chowdhry is also a member of the newly-form advisory committee that will provide necessary guidance to the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) executives.
This panel will also provide insights and suggestions to develop a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India, and offering inputs for building a resilient supply chain, promoting investments, financing mechanisms, global engagement, and research and innovation for the semiconductors and display ecosystem.
Indian government has roll out an ambitious Rs. 76,000-crore programme for development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
It aims to provide financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing and design ecosystem, in a bid to cement India’s growing clout in the global electronics value chains.
This programme has four key schemes that cover setting up of semiconductor fabs (fabrication plants) in India; setting up of display fabs; scheme for establishing compound semiconductors / silicon photonics / sensors fab and semiconductor assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) facilities in India; as well as a Design Linked Incentive (DLI) component.
The global semiconductor industry has facing shortages due to supply chain disruptions during the COVID period.
Experts say the Russia-Ukraine war may cause extra disruptions and affect supply chains of semiconductors, as the warring nations are major sources of neon and hexafluorobutadiene gases (essential element to manufacture semiconductor chips as these are used in the lithography processes for chip production).
An IT industry veteran, Ajai Chowdhry has team up with fellow HCL founder Arjun Malhotra and semiconductor industry expert Satya Gupta to launch EPIC Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation with the aim to revive the Indian electronics industry by creating indigenous products and brands.
Ajai Chowdhry Said :
EPIC Foundation is driving two main objectives, creating Indian electronics products and brands in high-impact/high-volume categories; and driving demand for semiconductor chips by scaling the volume for the Indian electronics products.