SemiconIndia 2026: $10 billion in semiconductor investment pledged, Odisha to get major hub

India has taken a significant step toward becoming a major global semiconductor manufacturing centre. The recently held Semicon 2026 international conference has given fresh momentum to the country's semiconductor ecosystem. During the event, efforts, talks and several key memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were finalised covering close to 10 billion dollars, about 83,000 crore rupees, in investment for the semiconductor sector, creating an upbeat mood in India's technology and manufacturing industries.

Milind Sadhukhan, managing director of Linde India Limited, said the environment for the semiconductor industry in India is now very positive. Interest from major global companies in manufacturing, designing and testing semiconductor chips in the country is growing rapidly. Through Semicon 2026, India is coming across to big global companies as a strong, safe and reliable long-term partner.

The central government's forward-looking policy and support from various state governments are seen as the main drivers behind this semiconductor push. Several state governments have added their own incentives on top of the attractive economic incentives the central government has offered for semiconductor manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, making it easier and more profitable for domestic and foreign investors to set up projects in India.

This growing enthusiasm has drawn not just companies doing business worth billions of dollars but also many new and emerging startups into the sector, particularly those focused on setting up chip packaging, testing and assembly facilities, known as ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging). There is healthy competition among state governments to offer land, uninterrupted power and water supply to semiconductor projects cleared by the central government, which is expected to speed up the sector's expansion.

In this race for semiconductor and industrial growth, Odisha has emerged as a major draw. The Odisha government has proposed setting up a large, state-of-the-art industrial and semiconductor hub on about 178 acres of land between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Several major companies have already signed agreements expressing interest in investing, even at this early stage of the project.

Linde India, a major industrial gas supply company, has responded very positively to these developments. Linde India's management met Odisha's chief minister and held detailed talks on the industrial gas supply needed for semiconductor production in the state. The company has acquired additional land in Gopalpur and has begun exploring opportunities at the semiconductor park in Cuttack. Officials say the infrastructure facilities and prompt administrative support being offered to investors by the Odisha government are expected to create thousands of jobs in the state.

India's initiative is seen as important for strengthening the global electronics and semiconductor supply chain. Companies with global networks, such as Linde India, are in continuous touch with major semiconductor companies worldwide and informing them of investment opportunities in India. With clear policy from the central and state governments, large foreign direct investment (FDI), the participation of new local entrepreneurs and initiatives from states such as Odisha, the industry believes that in the coming years India will move from being a chip importer to becoming a major global supplier of semiconductors.