THE Government on Wednesday approved an HCL-Foxconn semiconductor joint venture, which will set up a wafers manufacturing plant at an estimated cost of Rs 3,706 crore at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant will manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and other devices, said I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while briefing the media on the decision taken by the Union Cabinet. The unit will process 20,000 wafers per month and create about 2,000 jobs, a release said. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the establishment of a semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) that would attract investment of Rs 3,700 crore. The unit is a joint venture of HCL and Foxconn and together, they will set up the plant near Jewar airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area. The plant is designed for 20,000 wafers per month. The design output capacity is 36 million units per month. It will manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, PCs, and other devices that have display. With the demand for semiconductor increasing with the rapid growth of laptop, mobile phone, server, medical device, power electronics, defence equipment, and consumer electronics manufacturing in Bharat, this new unit will further add to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

 

HCL has a long history of developing and manufacturing hardware while Foxconn is a global major in electronics manufacturing. Five semiconductor units are in advanced stages of construction. With this sixth unit, “Bharat moves forward in its journey to develop the strategically vital semiconductor industry,” said the Cabinet. India’s strides in world of semiconductors continue: PM: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India’s strides in the world of semiconductors continue after the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 3,706 crore semiconductor plant in Uttar Pradesh. The PM said, “India’s strides in the world of semiconductors continue! Today’s Cabinet decision regarding the establishment of a semiconductor unit in UP will boost growth and innovation.” It will create innumerable opportunities for the youth as well.”

 

The plant will be built at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district by the HCL-Foxconn joint venture to manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops and automobiles. It will have the capacity to handle 20,000 wafers per month, and produce 3.6 crore chips a month, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing the media on the Cabinet decision. “Semiconductor industry is now shaping up across the country. World-class design facilities have come up in many states across the country. State governments are vigorously pursuing the design firms,” it added in its note. Students and entrepreneurs in 270 academic institutions and 70 startups are working on world-class latest design technologies for developing new products. Around 20 products developed by the students of these academic students have been taped out by SCL Mohali. As the country moves forward in semiconductor journey, the ecosystem partners have also established their facilities in India. Applied Materials and Lam Research are two of the largest equipment manufacturers. Both have a presence in India now. Merck, Linde, Air Liquide, Inox, and many other gas and chemical suppliers are gearing up for growth of the semiconductor industry in the country.