Union Minister of State for Electronic and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar today said Assam is soon going have a Rs 25000 crore semiconductor manufacturing plant, in what could be the single largest investment in private sector in the State. Speaking at the Digital India Future Skills Summit today, Chandrashekhar said the semiconductor facility proposal of TATA is being “actively evaluated” and assured the students that there will be no need for anybody from Northeast who has an aspiration to work in semiconductor space to go to other countries like Taiwan, USA etc after setting up of this plant. He further said that in few years time, vibrant opportunities will be available to aspirants in the State. “In the next four/ five years, we are going to be global spectrum of semiconductor development,” he said. The semiconductor facility will be set up at Jagiroad and the State government is learnt to have allotted 160 acres of the land for it. “I reinforce that students of this generation are the luckiest since Independence, with the government and system coming to your doorstep presenting you the opportunities to realize your dreams and preparing an enabling framework simultaneously,” Chandrashekhar said.
Stating that it was not enough “merely to have education”, the Union Minister said today it is extremely important to be skilled in some domain and areas in emerging technology like AI, cyber security, Big Data, Advanced Computing had huge opportunities for students and government has been preparing young Indians who are competitive globally so that they can been accessible to global majors. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a three pronged strategy to shape the future of technology – whose components are ‘future design’ for design innovation, ‘future lab’ for innovation around systems and ‘future skills’ for preparing young Indians with capabilities in emerging sectors. “Future skills is about you the students and the opportunities and skills you to need to have to pursue those opportunities. That is what is about this summit which will be an annual event which will ensure to connect those who want talent and those who want to be talented,” he said, adding that India’s tech and innovation eco-system is at the most exciting inflection point – representing unprecedented opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the inaugural session, State Education Minister Ranuj Pegu said the Assam government would soon allot a plot of land to National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NEILIT) in Guwahati have a full-fledged institute. Organized by Union IT Ministry and NEILIT, the summit – first such event to be held in Northeast – which saw participation of some global tech giants was also addressed Ms. Jaya Jagdish, Head AMD India; Lingraj Sawkar, President & CEO, Kyndryl India; Ruchir Dixit, Country Head, Siemens EDA; Ganesh Gopalan, Co-Founder & CEO, Gnani.ai: Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay. The vote of thanks at the inaugural session was given by Dr. Yumnam Jayanta Singh, ED, NIELIT, Guwahati.
