Tribute from IESA: The Digital Diamond architect, PM Narendra Modi

The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) and SEMI extends its warmest wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday, September 17, 2025. 

As India advances with unprecedented speed in the global technology landscape, we recognize and celebrate the Prime Minister's visionary leadership, which has been the guiding force behind the nation's emergence as a formidable player in the semiconductor and electronics sector.

Under the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership, the government has moved with remarkable agility to create a comprehensive ecosystem for electronics and semiconductor design and manufacturing. This vision is backed by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), with a financial outlay of ₹76,000 crore. 

This initiative, along with the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, has attracted significant investments, with a total project value of ₹1.60 lakh crore announced in fab plants, ATMP/OSAT units, DLI beneficiaries and various state-level policies. These ventures have not only attracted investment, but also fostered a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship, transforming India's potential into a tangible reality.

During his address at the recent Semicon India 2025 event, PM Modi eloquently captured the essence of this new era. He quoted, "Oil was black gold, but chips are digital diamonds." 

This powerful statement highlights the strategic shift from a resource-based economy to one powered by digital innovation, with semiconductors at its core. A special highlight of the event was the Prime Minister’s visit to the exhibition booths and his roundtable interaction with global CXOs—a moment that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the world’s technology landscape, said Ashok Chandak, CEO and President SEMI India and IESA. 

The Prime Minister’s vision for a "full-stack semiconductor nation" is now taking shape, moving India beyond backend operations to become a global hub for design, manufacturing, and packaging. This is already evidenced by the groundbreaking establishment of India's chip design and manufacturing facilities, 32-bit VIKRAM processor and the upcoming rollout of the first "Made in India" commercial chip. 

As he so compellingly put it, "The day is not far when India's smallest chip will drive the world's biggest change."

IESA and SEMI is proud to be a partner in this mission, working closely with the government to build a design and manufacturing ecosystem having committed 20 Bn$ USD by member companies in semiconductor manufacturing projects, ambition of $500 billion electronics industry, skilled workforce development initiative, facilitate industry-academia collaborations aligning with ChipIN center having support to 285 academic institutions, and creating a massive R&D initiative of industry-sponsored research, Start Up Mitra initiative promoting DLI, supporting the $1 billion Deep Tech Venture fund, etc. 

We are confident that with the continued commitment and strategic direction of the Prime Minister, India will fulfill his bold prophecy: "The day is not far when the whole world will say – Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World," continued Chandak.

The foundation has been laid, and the momentum is unstoppable. Happy Birthday to the architect of India's digital future.