Published By : Admin | November 18, 2014 | 07:00 IST
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His Excellency Prime Minister Tony Abbott Friends from Media
I thank Prime Minister Abbott, the people and the Federal and the State Governments of Australia for a wonderful visit so far.
Prime Minister Abbott and I have spent the last week together – at the East Asia Summit, the G20 and for this bilateral summit. This reflects the broad framework of our relationship, defined by a growing partnership in the cause of a peaceful and prosperous world, and a strong and broad-based bilateral relationship.
This is a natural partnership, arising from our shared values and interests, and our strategic maritime locations.
India and Australia have a great economic synergy. There are huge opportunities for partnership in every area we can think of – agriculture, agro-processing, resources, energy, finance, infrastructure, education, and science and technology.
The economic climate in India has changed. I believe it will be a lot easier to convert opportunities into concrete outcomes. Prime Minister Abbott and I discussed what we should do to impart real momentum to our economic partnership.
Reconstituting the CEO Forum is an important step. We have agreed to speed up negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. I also asked for easier access for Indian business to the Australian market and quicker investment approvals.
India will hold a ‘Make in India’ show in Australia in 2015. Australia would also be holding Business week in India in January 2015. We also agreed on seeking early closure on the civil nuclear agreement, which will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the most secure and safe nuclear energy programme in the world. Cricket and hockey are natural glue between our people. I know yoga is enormously popular here. We need to connect our people more. I am pleased with the new Cultural Exchange Programme signed today. India would establish a Cultural Centre in Sydney by February 2015. We plan to hold a Festival of India in Australia in 2015 and tourism weeks in Australia.
The Social Security Agreement is a really positive development. It will help in making our business relations stronger, especially in the Services Sector.
I greatly welcome the New Framework for Security Cooperation. Security and defence are important and growing areas of the new India-Australia partnership - for advancing regional peace and stability, and combating terrorism and trans-national crimes.
This morning's visit with Prime Minister Abbott to the Australian War Memorial reminded us of the need to strive together for a better world. In conclusion, I would like to say that it has been nearly three decades since the last Prime Ministerial visit from India. The fact that we have exchanged visits in two months is a sign of better times to come.
I am deeply honoured by the opportunity to speak to the Parliament and also look forward to spending the evening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Prime Minister Abbott.
India is set to play a major role in driving the global semiconductor industry: PM Modi at SEMICON India
September 11, 2024
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“India’s semiconductor sector is on the brink of a revolution, with breakthrough advancements set to transform the industry”
“Today's India inspires confidence in the world… When the chips are down, you can bet on India”
“India's semiconductor industry is equipped with special diodes where energy flows in both directions”
“India holds a three-dimensional power namely the present reformist government, the country’s growing manufacturing base and the nation’s aspirational market which is aware of the technological trends”
“This small chip is doing big things to ensure last-mile delivery in India”
“Our dream is that every device in the world will have an Indian-made chip”
“India is set to play a major role in driving the global semiconductor industry”
“Our goal is that 100% of electronic manufacturing should happen in India”
“Whether it is mobile manufacturing, electronics, or semiconductors, our focus is clear—we want to build a world that doesn’t stop or pause in times of crisis but keeps moving forward”
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitin Prasada, all the giants associated with the global semiconductor industry, all the partners from the education, research, and innovation world, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen! Namaskar to all!
I extend a special welcome to all the associates of SEMI. Bharat is the eighth country in the world to host this grand event related to the global semiconductor industry. And I can say that this is the right time to be in India. You are at the right time, at the right place. In the 21st-century Bharat, the chips are never down! And it’s not just that, today’s Bharat assures the world — When the chips are down, you can bet on India!
Friends,
Your association with the semiconductor world inevitably involves diodes. And as you know, energy flows in only one direction in a diode. But special diodes are used in Bharat’s semiconductor industry. Here our energy flows in both directions. You might wonder how? And this is very interesting, you invest and create value. Meanwhile, the government provides you with stable policies and ease of doing business. Your semiconductor industry is linked with ‘Integrated Circuits’. Bharat also provides you with an ‘integrated ecosystem’. You are well aware of the immense talent of Bharat’s designers. Bharat contributes 20 percent of the talent in the world of designing, and it is continually expanding. We are preparing a semiconductor workforce of 85,000 technicians, engineers, and R&D experts. Bharat’s focus is on making its students and professionals ready for the semiconductor industry. Just yesterday, the first meeting of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was held. This foundation will provide a new direction and new energy to Bharat’s research ecosystem. Additionally, Bharat has also created a special research fund of one trillion rupees.
Friends,
Such initiatives will greatly expand the scope of innovations in the semiconductor and science sectors. We are also focusing heavily on semiconductor-related infrastructure. Moreover, you have a three dimensional power —first, Bharat’s current reformist government, second, the growing manufacturing base in Bharat, and third Bharat’s aspirational market. A market that understands the taste of technology. For you, the Three-D Power semiconductor industry base is something that is hard to find elsewhere.
Friends,
Bharat’s aspirational and tech-oriented society is very unique. For Bharat, a chip is not just a technology. For us, it is a means to fulfil millions of aspirations. Today, Bharat is a major consumer of chips. We have built the world’s best digital public infrastructure on this chip. This small chip is playing a significant role in ensuring last-mile delivery in Bharat. When even the strongest banking systems in the world faltered during the Corona pandemic, banks in Bharat continued to operate uninterrupted. Whether it is Bharat’s UPI, RuPay card, Digi Locker, or Digi Yatra, various digital platforms have become part of everyday life for the people of Bharat. Today, Bharat is increasing manufacturing in every sector to become self-reliant. Today, Bharat is undergoing a significant green transition. The demand for data centres in Bharat is continuously rising. This means that Bharat is going to play a major role in driving the global semiconductor industry.
Friends,
There has been an old saying — ‘Let the chips fall where they may’. Meaning, let things happen as they will. Today’s young and aspirational Bharat does not follow this attitude. Bharat’s mantra today is —‘Increasing the number of chips produced in India’. And that’s why we have taken many steps to advance semiconductor manufacturing. The Indian government is providing 50 percent support for setting up semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Bharat. State governments are also providing additional support in this regard. Due to these policies, more than 1.5 trillion rupees of investments have already been made in Bharat in this sector in a short time. And today, many projects are in the pipeline. The Semicon India Program is also an excellent initiative. Under this program, financial support is being provided for front-end fabs, display fabs, semiconductor packaging, compound semiconductors, sensors, and display manufacturing. In other words, work is being done with a 360-degree approach in Bharat. Our government is advancing the entire semiconductor supply chain ecosystem in Bharat. I mentioned from the Red Fort this year that our dream is for every device in the world to have an Indian-made chip. Bharat will do whatever is necessary to become a semiconductor powerhouse.
Friends,
We recently announced the Critical Mineral Mission for domestic production and overseas acquisition of critical minerals. Work is underway on customs duty exemptions for critical minerals, mining block auctions, and more. Additionally, we are working on setting up a semiconductor research centre at the Indian Institute of Space Sciences. We are partnering with IITs so that our engineers not only develop high-tech chips for today but also research next-gen chips. We are also advancing international collaborations. You may have heard of oil diplomacy; today’s era is that of silicon diplomacy. This year, Bharat was elected Vice Chair of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework's Supply Chain Council. We are also a significant partner in the QUAD Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative and have recently signed agreements with several countries including Japan and Singapore. Bharat is also continuously increasing its cooperation with the United States in this sector.
Friends,
You are all familiar with Bharat’s semiconductor mission. Some people question why Bharat is focusing on this. Such individuals should study our Digital India Mission. The goal of the Digital India Mission was to provide the country with transparent, effective, and leakage-free governance. Today, we are experiencing its multiplier effect. We needed affordable mobile handsets and data for the success of Digital India. Accordingly, we implemented necessary reforms and built essential infrastructure. We were among the major importers of mobile phones a decade ago. Today, we are the world’s second-largest producer and exporter. A recent report shows that Bharat is now the second-largest market for 5G handsets. Just two years ago, we started the 5G rollout. Look at where we have reached today. Today, Bharat’s electronics sector has grown to over 150 billion dollars. And our goal is even bigger. We want to grow our electronics sector to 500 billion dollars by the end of this decade. This will create about 6 million jobs for the youth of Bharat. Bharat’s semiconductor sector will also benefit greatly from this. Our goal is for 100 percent of electronic manufacturing to be done in Bharat. This means Bharat will not only make semiconductor chips but also their finished goods.
Friends,
Bharat’s semiconductor ecosystem provides solutions not only to domestic challenges but also to global ones. You might have heard a metaphor related to designing. This metaphor is — ‘single point of failure’. Designing students are taught to avoid this flaw. The aim is to ensure that the system does not depend on just one component. This lesson is not limited to designing alone. It applies equally to our lives, especially in the context of supply chains. Be it COVID or wars, no industry has been spared from supply chain disruptions in the recent past. Hence, resilience in supply chains is crucial. Therefore, I am pleased that Bharat is a significant part of the mission to create resilience in various sectors. And we must remember one more thing. When democratic values are coupled with technology, the positive energy of technology becomes stronger. Conversely, when democratic values are removed from technology, it can quickly become harmful. Therefore, whether it is mobile manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or semiconductors, our focus is clear. We want to create a world that continues to operate without stopping, even in times of crisis. With this confidence that you will strengthen Bharat’s efforts in this regard, I wish you all the very best. Thank you very much!
