Semicon India exhibitor growth signals global confidence in India's chip push: ICEA
ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo says the surge in Semicon India exhibitors reflects growing global faith in India's semiconductor ecosystem.
The expanding roster of exhibitors at Semicon India points to rising international confidence in the country's semiconductor ambitions, India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo has said, describing the latest edition of the event as markedly stronger than its predecessors.
Speaking on the sidelines of SEMICON India 2026, Mohindroo said the jump in exhibitor numbers was a clear endorsement of the direction India has taken. "You saw the big list of exhibitors. So it has grown tremendously. And that is a vindication of the faith in India, that India is doing the right things," he said.
He cautioned, however, that the ecosystem remains in a formative phase. Academia, students, industry, industry bodies and both the Central and state governments are all contributing to its development, he noted, adding that the sector has evolved considerably over the past five years even as India continues to learn.
Mohindroo argued that the pace of progress stands out when compared with the timelines of other nations. "What other countries have taken a few decades to achieve, we have in half a decade, we have achieved a lot," he said.
According to him, both the government and industry are treating semiconductors as a foundational sector for electronics, and recent developments reflect a wider push to build out India's electronics manufacturing base.
Looking ahead, ICEA is preparing to launch a national event, the Bharat Electronic Manufacturing and Export Summit, scheduled for February. Mohindroo said the summit would span all verticals of the electronics industry and described it as a significant undertaking.
The association also envisions closer coordination among major industry gatherings. Mohindroo said the Bharat Electronics Show, Semicon and possibly other events could be held alongside one another in the future to generate greater synergy for foreign visitors, exhibitors and domestic companies. Such alignment, he added, could deepen engagement between international participants and India's domestic electronics industry as the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem continues to mature.