‘It's Just The Beginning’: Top CEOs Praise PM Modi For Commitment To Growth Of Semiconductor Sector

Ahead of the SEMICON India 2024 Summit on Thursday, several prominent semiconductor industry leaders met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised his leadership in enhancing India’s role in the global semiconductor sector.

Prime Minister Modi chaired the Semiconductor Executives’ Roundtable at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in national capital on Tuesday.

During the meeting, PM Modi emphasised that the ideas discussed would not only impact their businesses but also shape India’s future, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The roundtable featured CEOs, heads, and representatives from major organisations including SEMI, Micron, NXP, PSMC, IMEC, Renesas, TEPL, Tokyo Electron Ltd., Tower, Synopsys, Cadence, Rapidus, Jacobs, JSR, Infineon, Advantest, Teradyne, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Merck, CG Power, and Kaynes Technology.

Also in attendance were professors from Stanford University, the University of California San Diego, and IIT Bhubaneswar.

Comments on PM Modi 

After meeting the Prime Minister, Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, praised Modi’s leadership, calling it “exceptional” and unparalleled. “It is so exceptional that it has not just inspired India but the entire world. Under PM Modi’s leadership, things are so nice that the whole world is coming to this summit with me,” Manocha said.

While, Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP, remarked on Modi’s unique expertise in the semiconductor industry. “After speaking to many political leaders in the rest of the world, I haven’t met a single one with such deep expertise in our specific industry. Very impressive,” Sievers remarked.

Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs, highlighted the global impact of Modi’s efforts, noting, “What PM Modi is doing to elevate India on the global scale is not only what India needs but what the world needs.”

Luc Van Den Hove, CEO of IMEC, expressed his admiration for Modi’s commitment to making India a semiconductor powerhouse. “I am very impressed with the leadership shown by PM Modi, which shows a very strong commitment and dedication to make India a powerhouse in the area of semiconductor technology,” Van Den Hove said.

Anirudh Devgan, CEO of Cadence, stated, “With PM Modi’s leadership, there is a big momentum, compared to three years ago. I have been fortunate enough to be involved from the beginning and it is really positive to see that there is big improvement every year.”

Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego, Professor Sandeep Khosla, expressed, “The Prime Minister has shown an amazing vision in the semiconductor mission. No administration in the history of this country had the courage to create the right policy when it came to semiconductors…”

Sassine Ghazi, CEO of Synopsys, also spoke on Modi’s strategic focus on the semiconductor sector. “In the last 2-3 years, the enthusiasm and focus around the sector with a clear strategy of how to and where to invest, from design all the way to manufacturing. Right now, what I am seeing, is the interest is to go from an engineering centre to create products for both local and global consumption,” Ghazi noted.

Arogyaswami Paulraj, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, said, “India has taken a huge step forward, in the semiconductor industry with a lot of energy and a lot of progress.”

Randhir Thakur, CEO of TEPL, commented, “We are really excited about the vision of the Prime Minister and how he is looking at the digital infrastructure for the future of our country…”

Vellayan Subbiah, Chairman of CG Power, remarked, “It is a really exciting time for us. It’s just the beginning. The kind of position India is getting to is at an unprecedented level. I have never seen this level of industry-government collaboration.”

About SEMICON India 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2024 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on September 11. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that Modi will also address the gathering during the event, which is set to begin at 10:30 AM.

Themed “Shaping the Semiconductor Future,” SEMICON India 2024 will run from September 11 to 13. The three-day conference aims to highlight India’s semiconductor strategy and policy, with the goal of establishing the country as a global hub for semiconductor technology.

The event will feature more than 250 exhibitors and 150 speakers, showcasing the latest advancements and strategies in the semiconductor industry. It will witness the participation of top leadership of global semiconductor giants and will bring together global leaders, companies, and experts from the semiconductor industry.

(With inputs from agencies)