Chhattisgarh set out its ambition to become central India’s principal centre for technology and innovation on Friday, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai underscoring the state’s readiness to anchor India’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem. His remarks came at the inauguration of ‘Make in Silicon’, a two-day national symposium held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Nava Raipur.
The event coincided with the institute’s 10th foundation day and, according to an official statement, marked an important step in efforts to strengthen India’s drive towards self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing.
Sai said the semiconductor mission had transformed the national technology landscape and credited the country’s progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “India has achieved historic progress through the Semiconductor Mission, electronics manufacturing, and chip design initiatives. This mission is not just about infrastructure, it is about empowering youth and fuelling innovation. Semiconductors form the backbone of modern life, powering mobile phones, satellites, defence systems, and artificial intelligence,” he said.
He said initiatives such as ‘Make in Silicon’ would lend “crucial momentum to India’s chip revolution”, adding that Chhattisgarh was well placed to become an active partner in the national mission. The state’s new Industrial Policy, he noted, contains provisions aimed at promoting semiconductor-linked investment. “Chhattisgarh offers skilled human resources, robust industrial infrastructure, uninterrupted power supply, and a conducive environment for technological growth,” he said.
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A semiconductor unit has already been approved for Nava Raipur and the foundation stone laid earlier this year. Sai said the facility would create both direct and indirect employment and reinforce Nava Raipur’s development as a hub of IT and innovation. He also invoked the Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision Document, which places semiconductors high among the state’s priority sectors and ties technological expansion to sustainable development.
Sai said the government’s focus extended beyond the Ease of Doing Business to the “Speed of Doing Business”. “Let us work together to make Chhattisgarh the centre of knowledge, technology, and innovation in Central India and contribute actively to India's Semiconductor Mission,” he urged.
Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary said the state had emerged as a fertile ground for educational and technological growth. He pointed to the global disruption triggered by a recent Microsoft server outage as a reminder of the need to build resilience into technological systems. “We live in an era driven by technology. The recent global disruption caused by Microsoft's server outage shows how deeply technology influences our lives, economy, and global systems. We must prepare now to face such challenges. Youth must make technical proficiency, research, and creative thinking the foundation of their lives,” he said.
Higher Education Minister Tank Ram Verma, IIIT Nava Raipur Director Om Prakash Vyas and others attended the event.
‘Make in Silicon’ is being organised by the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at IIIT Nava Raipur to bolster indigenous semiconductor capacity and promote the creation of a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.
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