Rs 25,000 crore semiconductor packaging plant in Assam soon: Union Minister

Guwahati: Assam will soon get a semiconductor packaging plant worth Rs 25,000 crore, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said during the inaugural of the Future Skills Summit of the Northeast organized by the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NEILIT) on Thursday.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously revealed that Tata Electronics Private Limited has submitted a proposal to the central government for setting up a semiconductor processing plant in Assam, with an investment of Rs 40,000 crores. The proposed plant, to be located in Jagiroad, will focus on assembly and packaging, showcasing the TATA Group's commitment to bolstering the state's technological infrastructure, Biswa Sarma had said at the time. He also said that the TATA intends to hire thousands of locals to run the proposed plant.

Ranoj Pegu, Assam's Minister for Higher Education, School Education, and Tribal Affairs, speaking at the summit, said that the state has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the TATA Group for a 150-acre land near Guwahati to establish a semiconductor plant. TATA is currently undertaking the training of 2,000 engineers from Assam, further contributing to the skill development agenda.

Minister Chandrasekhar, lauding India as the world's premier digital economy, highlighted the pivotal role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, electronics, semiconductor technology, high-performance computing, automotive digitization, and cybersecurity in shaping the country's technological landscape.

Pegu also emphasized the role of NIELIT Guwahati in shaping the technological future of Assam and stressed that emerging technologies are not job killers but job creators, emphasizing the importance of continuous skill development to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving tech industry. "Assam is actively implementing a Rs 1800 crore project aimed at skilling the youth in industry technologies across 77 polytechnics and ITIs", he informed at the event, without sharing any further details.