Micron Technology, the renowned American chip maker, is making waves in India as it announces a substantial investment of up to $825 million in a state-of-the-art chip assembly and test facility in Gujarat. This strategic move not only marks Micron’s first factory in the country but also signifies the growing interest of global companies in India as a prime investment destination for semiconductors.
Backed by support from the Central government and the state of Gujarat, the overall investment for the facility is estimated to reach a staggering $2.75 billion, as confirmed by Micron. The project received the Cabinet’s approval just ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States, underscoring its immense significance and the strong bilateral ties between the two nations.
India has been proactively positioning itself as an alluring hub for electronics and semiconductors, implementing various initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the sector. Micron Technology’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, expressed great optimism about the company’s prospects in India, highlighting their global leadership in memory and storage technology.
The construction of the Gujarat facility is set to commence in 2023, with the first phase expected to be operational by late 2024, according to Micron’s official statement. Additionally, plans for another phase of the project are projected to kick off in the latter half of this decade. These combined phases are anticipated to generate approximately 5,000 direct job opportunities within Micron.
Establishing semiconductor units, also known as fabs, is a complex and capital-intensive undertaking. Fabs require cutting-edge technology, involve substantial risks, and have long gestation and payback periods. Despite these challenges, the Indian semiconductor market is flourishing, having reached a value of $27.2 billion in 2021, and is projected to maintain a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 19%, reaching $64 billion by 2026. However, India is yet to achieve domestic chip manufacturing capabilities.
Micron Technology’s significant investment in Gujarat’s chip assembly and test facility not only showcases the company’s confidence in India’s potential as an emerging semiconductor market but also holds the promise of creating thousands of job opportunities within the semiconductor industry. This development further solidifies India’s attractiveness as a favorable investment destination and reinforces its ambitions of achieving self-reliance in chip manufacturing.
The true impact of Micron’s entry into the Indian market will be closely observed as India continues to strive towards bolstering its semiconductor ecosystem. Collaborations with global industry players like Micron will play a pivotal role in realizing India’s vision of becoming a self-sufficient player in chip manufacturing, ultimately propelling the nation to new heights in the world of cutting-edge technology.
