News: Taiwan semiconductor industry eyes India

(BL 30/08/2006) Chennai - The members of a delegation headed by the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) seemed enthusiastic about investing opportunities in India. "The growth of the Indian domestic market is attractive," was the common refrain among members. Asked what would make big names in semiconductor manufacturing, such as TSMC and UMC, invest in India, T.Y. Wu, President, TSIA replied "Good infrastructure. Continuous power supply, good quality water and roads for logistics are critical to this industry."

At a gathering organised by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and India Semiconductor Association, members of the delegation also expressed the need for a single window clearance from the Indian government to help set up manufacturing units.

Ar Rm Arun, Member, Executive Committee and Chairman, IT committee, SICCI, said India, like China, was emerging as a new market for semiconductors and Taiwanese companies could capture this market by setting up semiconductor manufacturing units in India.

Tie-up areas

The areas of collaboration suggested between India and Taiwan in the semiconductor space included design, verification and synthesis, wafer fabrication, packaging and testing. Academic collaboration between universities in India and Taiwan was suggested to facilitate training and research activities.

On a weeklong visit to India, the Taiwanese delegation will visit Bangalore and New Delhi for similar sessions. The delegation met the Communications and IT Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, who said Taiwan should take the lead from companies like Flextronics, Nokia and Motorola to set up base in Chennai.