Vaishnaw said that the applications of Intel, Samsung, TSMC, Micron and Infineon are expected in the future rounds
The government is expecting to receive more bids for setting up semiconductor chip fabrications in the second round of Semicon India Programme.
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told media publications that the first round of the programme was successful as the government received bids from credible players.
“On 15th December, the government had approved the programme for the development of semiconductor ecosystem. From January 1 onwards, we started taking the applications, and the response we have received is good. We are happy as serious applicants have come,” Vaishnaw said.
Five companies have proposed to invest more than Rs 1.53 Lakh crore to set up display and semiconductor fabs in India. An official statement by the government of India notes that Vedanta Foxconn Joint Venture, ISMC and IGSS Ventures have proposes $13.6 billion investment. These companies are looking for support of $5.6 billion from the government of India.
“We have to look at the entire ecosystem. We have received applications for silicon fab, for display fab, for compound semiconductors, for ATMP/OSAT and, finally, for design,” the minister added.
Vaishnaw said that the applications of Intel, Samsung, TSMC, Micron and Infineon are expected in the future rounds.
“We have given a 20-year roadmap for semiconductor development. It is an industry that requires long-term commitment from the government and the industry. This is only the first round,” he said.
“There are many other applicants who are seriously considering…the interest from many other players is there,” the minister added, further stating that the major companies are “evaluating the proposal and in the next round we wish to see more”.
Notably, the government will be negotiating the structure and quantum of fiscal support with the applicants who have submitted the bids so far. The fiscal support under the scheme shall be provided on a pari-passu basis for a period of six years from the date of approval.
Apart from fiscal support, semiconductor fabs set up in India will be supported through purchase preference in procurement of electronic products by the government under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order.
