Sergio Gore (file photo)
India’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain is “essential” as other countries in the neighborhood look to dominate legacy chip production, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore said at the inauguration of Micron Technology’s semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat on Saturday.Speaking at the event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the US-based company’s ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging) plant, Gore said India offers a safe and reliable option in the strategically sensitive region, PTI reported.
The US Ambassador said, “India’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain is not only welcome, but necessary under the leadership of your great Prime Minister. As other countries in the neighborhood are aggressively expanding the production of legacy chips and trying to dominate the sector, India offers a safe and reliable alternative.”Describing semiconductors as the backbone of modern technology, Gore said they power everything from smartphones and defense systems to artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. He said creating a “resilient supply chain” for such critical components requires a semiconductor ecosystem across “multiple trusted locations.”Gore described Micron’s investment as a strategic milestone. He said, “This $2.75 billion investment represents much more than a new factory. It represents the future of American technology leadership, the strength of the US-India partnership, and our shared commitment to building a resilient supply chain that serves both our countries and the world.”The ambassador said India currently has 10 semiconductor projects worth $19 billion under development, calling them “direct evidence” of Prime Minister Modi’s vision and ability to “secure India’s future and that of global partners, including the US.”Referring to growing bilateral cooperation, Gore said that when Modi and President Donald Trump met in Washington last February, they launched the US-India Compact (Catalytic Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology). “At the heart of the framework is the Trust Initiative – transforming relationships using strategic technology. Today’s launch embodies that vision,” he said.He said India’s focus on chip design and ATMP operations complements the US effort to manufacture the most advanced chips. Gujarat government’s incentive policies for semiconductor projects are an example for other states, he said.Gore said the US is “beyond proud” of Micron’s Sanand facility and that other US companies are “looking closely” and exploring opportunities in Gujarat.Under Trump’s leadership, the US is strengthening its semiconductor capacity, he said, citing Micron’s $100 billion multi-fab facility in Clay, New York, the largest in US history. Gore said, “We are investing in advanced chip manufacturing at home while building trusted partnerships abroad. But American leadership is not about going it alone. It is about working with our partners who share the same goals and our vision for a secure, prosperous future.”Earlier, Prime Minister Modi described the Micron plant as a testament to India-US cooperation. “Our collective efforts will make the global supply chain of critical minerals more secure and reliable,” he said, also referring to the Pax Silica agreement between the two countries.On February 20, India officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, a US-led international alliance that aims to secure global supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals.