Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 13 virtually laid the foundation stone for the Tata Group’s ₹27,000-cr indigenous “Semiconductor Assembly & Test Facility” at Jagiroad in Morigaon district.
Mr Modi while addressing ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’ programme, laid the foundation stone for three semiconductor projects worth about ₹1.25 lakh cr via video conferencing. The Jagiroad unit facility will be an outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT). The other two semiconductor projects are coming up in Gujarat. The Prime Minister lauded the developments taking place in the North East as the foundation stone for one of the three semiconductor facilities that is coming up in Assam.
Earlier on February 29, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the establishment of three semiconductor units, including Semiconductor ATMP unit at Jagiroad in Morigaon district under ‘Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystems in the country.
Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) will set up the semiconductor unit at the site of erstwhile HPCL’s paper mill (read Nagaon Paper Mill) at Jagiroad. The land belongs to Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. TSAT semiconductor is developing indigenous advanced semiconductor packaging technologies, including flip chip and ISIP (integrated system in package) technologies. The plant’s capacity is fixed at 48 million per day. The chips manufactured will be used in automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, mobile phones, etc.
Speaking from the site of the upcoming facility at Jagiroad after the inauguration, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the latter’s role in the entire exercise.
The Chief Minister said that this is the biggest ever private investment in the State where industry is still at a nascent stage. “Today is a historic day for Assam. We are getting an investment of ₹27,000 cr. We never imagined that Tata Group would invest at this scale in Assam, where industries in the past hesitated to come and set up their business,” said Dr. Sarma.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “geographical barrier” is no more a hindrance in the process of industrialisation, the Chief Minister stated. Expressing his happiness over Assam being covered under the first phase of the “semiconductor technology revolution” in the country, the Chief Minister said, “ It is a manifestation of the fact that under the current dispensation at the Centre, the North East of India is getting its due attention and the region cannot be termed a “neglected region” anymore. The people of Assam shall remain forever indebted to the Prime Minister for his role in the ushering of a new wave of development and progress in the State.”
The Chief Minister assured the Tata Group of doing everything within the capacity of the Government of Assam to provide a conducive industrial environment.
Dr. Sarma said it has the potential to provide direct employment to as many as 15,000 youths of the State and provide indirect employment opportunities to an equal number of job-seekers. “This will help the educated youths in our State and our neighbourhood to get jobs locally and take the State forward,” Dr. Sarma said.
The Chief Minister praised the role of his cabinet colleagues Bimal Bora and Pijush Hazarika, for their tireless efforts in ensuring that the idea of having a semiconductor assembly and test unit at Jagiroad turns into a reality.
Meanwhile, Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Trusts and chairman emeritus, Tata Sons said that the upcoming facilities of a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Jagiroad with an investment of ₹27,000 cr will put the North Eastern State on the global map.
On March 20, attaching pictures of him, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Ratan Tata wrote on X that the investment would make the State a major player in the semiconductor space.
“This new development will put Assam on the global map. We wish to thank the Chief Minister of Assam Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for his support and vision that has made all this possible,” he wrote on X.
