Gujarat to Become India’s ‘Gateway to Silicon’: says CM Bhupendra Patel while launching ‘Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2026’ at Gandhinagar

Special presence of Union IT Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi, Science and Technology Minister Shri Arjunbhai Modhwadia, and leading figures from the semiconductor industry from India and abroad

Gujarat is becoming a fast mover in semiconductor and chip manufacturing with policy stability, transparency, ease of doing business, and political will for development: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel:

• This conference signals the transformation of Gujarat — India’s growth engine — into a tech engine

• Dholera SIR is no longer merely a blueprint,  it is now ready to become the country’s Semicon City

• Gujarat is developing quality infrastructure, logistics, and a young skilled workforce suited to the needs of the semiconductor sector

• Gujarat’s ambition: to lead India’s journey from “chip to champion,” fulfilling PM Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and developed India by 2047

Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw:

• With the inauguration of Micron’s first plant at Sanand, India has secured a prominent place on the global semiconductor map

• India will develop not just chips, but also the machinery, materials, and testing ecosystem needed to manufacture them

• A global shortage of 2 million semiconductor specialists is anticipated — India will fill that gap

• Gujarat’s surplus power and clean energy availability presents a bright opportunity for establishing data centres in the state

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi:

• Gujarat is the state that guarantees the highest return on investment in the country

• Gujarat offers investors not just returns, but a guarantee of a secure future

• With only 5% of the country’s population and 6% of its geographical area, Gujarat contributes over 18% of India’s total manufacturing output, over 8% of GDP, over 30% of exports, and over 40% of total cargo handling

New ‘Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) 2026–31’ Policy unveiled by the Chief Minister, Union Minister, and other dignitaries

Inaugurating the Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2026 in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel stated that Gujarat is becoming a fast mover in semiconductor and chip manufacturing — driven by policy stability, transparency, ease of doing business, and political will — and that this conference sends a clear signal of transforming Gujarat from India’s growth engine into a tech engine.

He noted that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, India is strengthening its identity in the hardware space, and that the confidence embodied in “India is Ready, India is Reliable, and India Delivers” will be fulfilled through this Gujarat SemiConnect Conference.

Taking a further historic step toward realising PM Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the ‘Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2026’ was grandly inaugurated at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel.

The occasion was graced by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi, Science and Technology Minister Shri Arjun Modhwadia, and leading figures from the industry.

Organised by the state government’s Department of Science and Technology, and inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision, the conference carries the theme “Gujarat: India’s Silicon Gateway” — aimed at fostering strategic collaboration between high-tech chip manufacturers and local industry.

Describing the conference as the “right job at the right time,” the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration of the Micron plant at Sanand has sounded the trumpet of a technological revolution for the country. He added that this conference — launched immediately after that historic milestone — will demonstrate the state’s readiness to build a semiconductor ecosystem, attract global partners, and fulfil the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat through research, innovation, and supply chain localisation.
 
The Chief Minister gave industry leaders and investors a detailed overview of the end-to-end exclusive ecosystem Gujarat offers: chip manufacturing in Dholera and Sanand, and design and finance capabilities in GIFT City.

He stated that Dholera SIR is no longer merely a blueprint — it is set to become India’s Semicon City. World-class infrastructure, plug-and-play facilities, and modern logistics have been established at Dholera and Sanand for the semiconductor sector.

He noted that Gujarat — driven by sector-specific policy-making, technology-led development, and ease of doing business under PM Modi’s leadership — has become the first choice for global companies and investors. He further said that while industries worldwide worry about carbon footprints and carbon taxes, Gujarat prioritises green growth by being a power-surplus state and a leader in renewable energy. Gujarat is also committed to building a young, skilled workforce for the semiconductor industry, with a Nanofabrication Lab being set up at IIT Gandhinagar under the Samarth Project. 

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Gujarat will lead the fulfilment of PM Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047 through new semiconductor investments — a journey from chip to champion — and assured investors that their investments in Gujarat will set benchmarks for sustainable development.
 
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that yesterday was a historic day in India’s semiconductor journey. With PM Modi’s inauguration of Micron’s first plant at Sanand, India has secured a special place on the global semiconductor map. Following this success, the government is set to launch ‘Semicon 2.0’, whose primary objective is to make India a global hub not just for manufacturing, but for design, machinery, and talent.

Emphasising PM Modi’s vision and its execution, the Minister said that India had dreamed of becoming a semiconductor nation in the past, but it is the clear policy and precise implementation under PM Modi’s leadership that has made that dream a reality. When the first presentation on this was made in 2021, the PM engaged for 3 hours instead of the scheduled 45 minutes, going into every detail — a demonstration of his commitment to the mission.
 
Under Semicon 2.0, the Minister outlined priorities including promoting deep-tech startups so that companies like Qualcomm, Broadcom, and NVIDIA can be nurtured within India through a robust design ecosystem. India will develop not just chips, but also the machinery, materials, and testing ecosystem for chip manufacturing. Drawing lessons from Japan’s model, India is building a strong foundation with a 20-year vision.

On the global talent hub, the Minister said that a worldwide shortage of 2 million semiconductor specialists is expected, and India will fill that gap. India achieved in just four years the target of training 85,000 engineers that was originally set for ten years. Currently, students at 35 universities across the country are designing real chips. This network will be expanded from 315 to 500 universities, ensuring that youth from every state can find employment in this high-tech sector.

The Minister also stated that investment commitments of $250 billion at the infrastructure level and $17 billion in deep-tech VC funding have been made. By guaranteeing tax incentives until 2047, the government has provided policy stability. As a result, India’s IT industry will move beyond software services to lead the world in AI-based services.

He noted that with budget incentives extended until 2047, a strong foundation for data centres has been laid. With Gujarat’s surplus power and clean energy, the state government has a bright opportunity to establish data centres — a step that will play a key role in positioning India as a global data hub and realising the vision of Artificial Intelligence.

The Minister also highlighted the unprecedented growth of the electronics manufacturing sector, which has grown from ₹2 lakh crore to ₹12 lakh crore over the past ten years. The sector currently employs 2.5 million people and is growing at a CAGR of over 20%.
 
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Sanand is on its way to becoming India’s new Silicon Valley. He stated that Gujarat is today investors’ first choice — the state that guarantees the highest return on investment in the country. He assured investors that investment made in Gujarat today will remain secure for the next 10 generations.

Presenting figures on Gujarat’s economic strength, he noted that although Gujarat accounts for only 5% of the country’s population and 6% of its geographical area, it contributes over 18% to India’s total manufacturing output, over 8% to GDP, over 30% to total exports, and over 40% to total cargo handling.

He added that years of sustained political and policy stability are Gujarat’s greatest strength, and that the state government always works with a spirit of listening to and resolving even the smallest problems of investors. Young people from Gujarat have received world-class training in the semiconductor sector and have proven to be even more hardworking than their counterparts in other countries.
 
Minister Shri Arjun Modhwadia

Science and Technology Minister Shri Arjun Modhwadia said that when the world faced the challenges of COVID-19 and supply chains for critical components broke down, semiconductors emerged as a pivotal system. The halt in semiconductor production severely impacted many industries worldwide. Treating this major challenge as an opportunity, PM Modi decided to make India a semiconductor hub. To realise this vision, India’s first Micron ATMP plant was inaugurated at Sanand by the Prime Minister yesterday. He noted that there is still a great deal of ground to cover in this sector, and that under CM Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, Gujarat is moving towards becoming a knowledge hub.
 
Chief Secretary Shri M.K. Das

Chief Secretary Shri M.K. Das said that yesterday everyone witnessed a historic moment when PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Micron’s investment in the semiconductor sector. With this project, Gujarat has become a strong centre of the semiconductor ecosystem. He noted that the Dholera Special Investment Region is one of the world’s largest and most advanced infrastructure zones, equipped for high-tech manufacturing. Additionally, GIFT City provides an unparalleled financial framework for investors, making Gujarat an ideal state for technology and industry on a global scale.
 
Science and Technology Secretary Shri P. Bharati

Science and Technology Secretary Shri P. Bharati stated that to fulfil PM Modi’s dream of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, India is moving beyond being merely a technology market to becoming a significant manufacturer. Under the leadership of CM Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat is not waiting for the future — it is building it. This conference is not merely a gathering, but a reflection of Gujarat’s firm commitment to becoming a global leader in the semiconductor sector.
 
The conference saw the participation of global leaders to further strengthen Gujarat’s semiconductor ecosystem. Thematic panels focused specifically on manufacturing, infrastructure, finance, R&D, and future skills. ‘Country Round Tables’ were also organised to deepen international collaboration with countries such as Japan and Taiwan.

Also present on the occasion were Additional Chief Secretary (Industry and Mines) Shrimati Mamata Verma, Industries Commissioner Shri P. Swaroop, CEO of Dholera SIR Shri Kuldeep Arya, Mission Director of Gujarat State Electronics Mission Shrimati Neha Kumari, along with CEOs, MDs, researchers, innovators, delegates, and students from various IT and electronics industries.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat