India is rapidly cementing its place as a critical node in the global semiconductor value chain, with industry leaders attending the third and final day of SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi on 19 September 2026 declaring that the country has moved well beyond its earlier status as a market with potential. Large-scale investments, expanding international partnerships, and a maturing domestic ecosystem are now translating into visible, on-the-ground progress.

Key Voices from the Floor

Lim Seng Chuan of Kelington Group Berhad — a Malaysian firm and strategic partner of Tata Semiconductor and Tata Electronics — said it was an honour to contribute to India's semiconductor growth. He noted that Kelington would bring its expertise, experience, and technological capabilities to India, and that the India-Malaysia cooperation framework would benefit both sides while supporting the establishment of India's first semiconductor fabrication facility.

Derek Shields, Director of Business Development at Pfeiffer Vacuum India Pvt. Ltd, described this year's edition of SEMICON India as 'highly successful' and observed that the growth of India's semiconductor ecosystem was now becoming visible on the ground. 'Large-scale investments are flowing into India and the country has become a market that global companies are closely watching,' he said, adding that Pfeiffer Vacuum was also expanding its presence in India to support the sector's growth.

Scale and Reach of SEMICON India 2026

Simon Tan, Owner of Wisely Global Solutions, said he was impressed by the scale of the event during his first participation at SEMICON India. He noted that the event had expanded significantly within just three years, attracting companies and delegations from across the world and facilitating numerous collaboration agreements. According to Tan, the strong industry participation underscores India's growing appeal as a global semiconductor destination.

Prabakaran Kamalakannan, Director of Research and Development at Cohizon Life Sciences, said the event provided valuable exposure to emerging technologies, companies, and industry trends — signalling the cross-sector interest that semiconductor growth is generating within India.

Beyond Chips: Packaging, Testing and Assembly

Milan Sadhukhan, Managing Director of Linde India Limited, highlighted that interest in India was expanding beyond chip manufacturing itself, with increasing focus on packaging, testing, and assembly facilities. This signals the country's growing role across the entire semiconductor value chain — not just at the fabrication end.

What This Moment Means for India

SEMICON India 2026 is the third edition of the flagship event and comes at a pivotal moment. India's semiconductor ambitions are anchored by the government's India Semiconductor Mission, which has channelled significant incentives toward attracting global chipmakers. The presence of firms from Malaysia, Germany, and beyond at this year's event reflects how India's pitch — built on a combination of policy support, engineering talent, and market size — is now resonating with a genuinely global audience.

Notably, the Tata Group's push into semiconductor fabrication, backed by international partners such as Kelington, marks a structural shift for Indian industry. If the country's first fab comes online on schedule, it would represent a historic milestone in domestic technology manufacturing. Industry observers will be watching whether the momentum generated at events like SEMICON India translates into verifiable production capacity in the years ahead.