As India emerges as a global electronics manufacturing hub, Samwha is looking beyond sales to long-term growth. Anand Tripathi and Lee Sang Hee speak to EFY’s Shubha Mitra and Nidhi Agarwal about capacitor innovation, resilient supply chains and the company’s India expansion plans.
Q. Could you begin by introducing your company?
A. We are a Korean multinational company that has grown over seven decades into a leading global manufacturer of passive electronic components. With manufacturing facilities in South Korea, China, Indonesia and Thailand, and sales and support operations worldwide, we supply capacitors, inductors and aluminium electrolytic capacitors for automotive, telecom, industrial and computing applications. In India, our dedicated sales offices support domestic manufacturers and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), reinforcing our commitment to quality, innovation and long-term customer partnerships.
Q. Could you describe your current presence in India and how long you have been active in the market?
A. Our headquarters are in South Korea. In India, we have a head office in Gurugram, a sales office in Bengaluru and a resident sales team supporting customers in Pune. These teams work closely with OEMs and design engineers, providing technical support, application assistance and timely customer engagement.
Although we do not manufacture in India at present, our engagement has grown significantly alongside the country’s expanding electronics ecosystem. India is now one of our most important growth markets, where we focus on delivering technical expertise, faster deliveries and market-specific solutions.
Q. Who are your primary customers?
A. Automotive is our largest customer segment, both in India and globally. In India, we work with manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki, while internationally our customers include BMW, Volkswagen and Ford. The increasing electrification and digitalisation of vehicles continue to drive demand for reliable passive electronic components, making automotive one of our most strategic markets.
Q. How do you stand out from your competitors in the electronic components market?
A. Rather than competing across every segment, we focus on markets where we can create the greatest value through reliable supply, shorter lead times and competitive pricing. Our priorities include automotive electronics, telecom infrastructure, Artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and data centres. By concentrating our technical and operational resources on these areas, we strengthen customer relationships and achieve sustainable long-term growth.
Q. How do you compete with established Japanese and fast-growing Chinese manufacturers?
A. Japan and China both have strong component manufacturers, each with its own market strategy. Our approach is to focus on reliability, supply stability and responsiveness in carefully selected markets rather than competing across every product category. This enables us to maintain a strong and sustainable position despite intense global competition.
Q. What are the recent innovations and technological improvements in aluminium electrolytic capacitors?
A. Aluminium electrolytic capacitors remain one of our core strengths, and we continue to enhance their efficiency, reliability and durability to meet the evolving needs of telecom, automotive and smart metering applications.
At the same time, we are investing in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), or supercapacitors, for rapid energy storage and discharge applications. We are also developing specialised capacitor solutions for AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres, where higher power density, improved thermal management and longer operating life are essential.
Q. How do you see the Indian market evolving?
A. India is among the world’s fastest-growing electronics markets, driven by industrial expansion, localisation initiatives and strong government support for electronics manufacturing. While increasing competition from global players makes the market more dynamic, it also creates significant opportunities. We view India not simply as a sales market, but as a strategic long-term growth destination, and we continue to strengthen our brand, invest in local talent and deepen customer engagement.We see India not just as a sales market but as a key long-term strategic growth destination.
Q. Global geopolitical tensions are affecting supply chains. How are you managing these uncertainties?
A. Geopolitical disruptions are unpredictable, but our experience of navigating wars, oil shocks and financial crises has strengthened our ability to respond effectively. We rely on careful planning, diversified manufacturing locations and disciplined supply chain management to maintain resilience.
Even during periods of disruption, we have continued to deliver reliably while avoiding sudden price increases. Our priority is to honour customer commitments and ensure operational continuity regardless of external circumstances.
Q. Are there plans to establish manufacturing operations in India?
A. Yes. About a year ago, our headquarters evaluated potential investments based on India’s long-term market potential. Discussions are continuing and, although the timeline will depend on strategic and geopolitical considerations, India remains a strong candidate for future manufacturing expansion.
Q. What challenges do you face in setting up manufacturing in India?
A. The primary challenges are technical rather than regulatory. Manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) requires highly stable power supplies and significant volumes of water. It also generates wastewater that must comply with stringent environmental standards, including zero liquid discharge requirements, which demand advanced treatment facilities and increase investment costs. Although water availability and power stability still vary across locations, infrastructure continues to improve steadily.
Q. How supportive has the Indian government been towards your expansion plans?
A. We have received strong support from both the central and state governments. Organisations such as Invest India have provided valuable guidance on taxation, investment policy, land acquisition and regulatory procedures, while states including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have actively presented infrastructure options and investment opportunities. Overall, we find India’s policy environment highly supportive and clearly focused on attracting global manufacturing investment.
Q. What is your long-term outlook for India?
A. We are highly optimistic about India’s future. Strong domestic demand, localisation, supportive government policies and rapid technological progress are positioning the country as a major global electronics hub. We aim to expand our presence, strengthen customer relationships and deepen our participation in India’s electronics ecosystem, which we believe will play an increasingly important role in our global growth strategy.
