Lucknow: Thanking PM Narendra Modi for India’s march towards becoming an economic superpower and a technology hub, chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed North India’s first semiconductor project, India Chip, in Jewar on Saturday.Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, being set up in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area with an investment of Rs 3,700 crore, Yogi said the economy, security and development of the country in the 21st century will depend on this chip.“Last year, the PM, while addressing Semicon India, said that oil was black gold but the chip is a digital diamond. The establishment of this semiconductor project is the realisation of the PM’s vision,” the CM said, thanking the PM for launching the project.He said that in line with the PM’s vision his govt ensured development in UP with ‘scale and speed’. The PM’s concept of Ease of Doing Business has created an environment of healthy competition among states and, after his govt came to office in UP in 2017, they have managed to establish an ecosystem of Fearless Business and Trust of Doing Business. UP was establishing itself as a leading state in the country in deregulation and ease of doing business, Yogi said.“The world witnessed India’s development as a tech hub over the past four days, where more than 110 countries and nearly 10 lakh people participated in the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The semiconductor project, under which the first display driver semiconductor OSAT unit is being established, is a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn and is extremely important for Jewar,” the CM said.He explained that under previous govts, this same area was known for lawlessness and insecurity, where people hesitated to leave their homes after sunset. Now, Jewar is emerging as a ‘jewel’, he said, adding that the area was being established as a major hub of mobile manufacturing and electronic components.HCL Group chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra thanked the Centre and UP govt for their support in setting up the project. She said that the CM showed how change can be brought about by taking decisive steps.Foxconn’s Semiconductor Business Group chairperson Bob Chen described the joint venture as an “excellent example of our build, operate and localise in India”. He said: “Our BOL business model supports the local community. We express our heartfelt gratitude to our partner HCL and consider ourselves fortunate to be honoured by the central and UP govts for this achievement.”
