Modi vows to get ‘Made in India’ chips to US
India envisions a future in which “as many global devices as possible” operate on chips made in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Indian diaspora in New York on Sunday.
Speaking to a crowd of over 15,000 people, Modi called Indian-Americans “brand ambassadors” of Bharat – the name for India used in several languages on the subcontinent, and which has recently been used by officials to refer to India’s vision for its development and increasing global role.
“Bharat will not stop now, nor will it slow down. Bharat envisions a future where as many global devices as possible operate on Made-in-India chips,” Modi said, adding that his government has made the semiconductor sector “the foundation of Bharat’s accelerated growth.” “The day is not far when you will see Made-in-India chips here in America as well. This small chip will elevate Bharat’s journey towards development to unprecedented heights, and that’s Modi’s promise,” the Indian leader vowed.
An unforgettable community programme in New York, deepening the bond with our diaspora! pic.twitter.com/KgrQKt96Kn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2024
His statements come amid the Indian government’s push to ramp up domestic chip production. In 2021, New Delhi announced the $9 billion India Semiconductor Mission for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing. The government has also approved the setting up of five major semiconductor manufacturing hubs in the country.
During Modi’s ongoing visit to the US, New Delhi and Washington have entered into an agreement to set up a semiconductor fabrication plant to make chips for use in “national security, next generation telecommunications and green energy applications,” according to a joint fact-sheet released on Sunday. Earlier this month, India also entered into an agreement with Singapore, a major manufacturer of chips, to jointly boost their semiconductor industries.
During his speech, Modi asserted that India will play a “crucial” role in “accelerating global growth, promoting global peace, advancing climate action, closing the global skills gap, driving innovation, and stabilizing the global supply chain.” He also reiterated that India is “making every possible effort” to host the Olympics in 2036.
The Indian prime minister also conducted a roundtable in New York with the CEOs of leading tech companies. “[Modi] pushed us to continue making in India, designing in India,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who was at the meeting, told the media. Pichai is one of nearly two dozen CEOs of US-headquartered companies, mainly in the IT sector, who are of Indian origin. Apart from the Google chief, the meeting with Modi was attended by Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen and IBM’s Arvind Krishna.
During the meeting, Modi reiterated his government’s dedication to making India a “global hub for semiconductor manufacturing” and affirmed India’s commitment to promoting ethical and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) practices. Earlier this year, the Modi cabinet approved a national-level artificial intelligence initiative with a budget outlay of 103 billion rupees ($1.25 billion).
On Monday, the Indian leader is scheduled to address the ‘Summit of the Future’ conference at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Coinciding with the visit, the US returned 300 ancient inscriptions and statues allegedly stolen from India. In total, around 500 such artifacts have been sent back to Bharat from America, Modi said.
