Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated India’s first semiconductor manufacturing facility in Sanand on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s technological and industrial development. During the event, Modi highlighted the rapid transformation of Sanand, recalling a personal anecdote involving a one-rupee SMS to late industrialist Ratan Tata.
Modi reminisced about the message he sent to Tata, inviting the Tata Group to establish its Nano plant in Sanand amid challenges in West Bengal. “I wrote swagatam (Welcome),” Modi said, adding, “Look what a Gujju can do with a Re 1 investment.”
The Prime Minister also shared his deep connection with Sanand, recalling his early days traveling by bus and bicycle through the town. “Sanand was my karyakshetra (workplace) for a long time, and I have watched it evolve from a small town to a thriving city,” he noted.
The inauguration ceremony featured the launch of a cutting-edge Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) facility by US-based Micron Technology. The plant will produce SSD storage devices, RAM, DRAM, and NAND products, with an investment of Rs 22,516 crore, reflecting a strong India-US partnership.
Addressing the gathering, Modi emphasized India’s rising stature in global manufacturing. “India is capable, India is competitive, and India is committed,” he declared. “Our message to the world is clear: India is ready, reliable, and delivers.” He highlighted the country’s expanding hardware sector alongside its traditional software strengths.
Modi underscored the importance of semiconductor technology in the AI revolution, stating, “Semiconductors are the bridge to this change.” He announced the government’s Semiconductor Mission, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now bearing fruit with multiple projects underway. Besides Micron, three more plants are set to start production soon in Noida, Assam, Odisha, and Punjab.
The Prime Minister emphasized India’s manufacturing ambitions, noting that demand across sectors such as electronics and automobiles is constantly increasing. As domestic electronics manufacturing expands, so will the need for semiconductors, he added.
Modi highlighted how the new semiconductor ecosystem in Sanand would mirror the success of the Nano plant, which spurred local industry development and employment. “Gujarat will ensure no one feels any ‘kami’ (shortcoming),” he assured, promising enhanced lifestyle and social infrastructure.
He also praised the swift approval process for the project, attributing it to clear government policies driven by national development priorities.
The event was also attended by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who emphasized the importance of US-India collaboration. “Our partnership is crucial for shared prosperity and security,” Gor stated. He praised India’s emergence as a manufacturing hub and noted that India’s entry into the global semiconductor supply chain is just the beginning of deeper cooperation.
Gor expressed confidence that the strong bilateral ties and Modi’s leadership would continue to drive progress, reinforcing the enduring friendship between India and the United States.
