HCL-Foxconn joint venture to set up semiconductor unit near Jewar; 2,000 jobs, 20,000 wafers a month expected
India’s semiconductor dream is no longer stuck in the pipeline. The Centre has approved a ₹3,706 crore semiconductor manufacturing unit near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, signaling a serious leap in the country’s effort to become a global electronics powerhouse.
The facility, a collaboration between Indian tech major HCL and Taiwanese giant Foxconn, will be located in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region. Once up and running by 2027, it’s expected to roll out 20,000 semiconductor wafers a month and employ around 2,000 people.
Display driver chips and a whole lot of expectations
Unlike full-fledged chip fabrication units, this new plant will manufacture display driver chips—vital components that go inside mobile phones, laptops, car infotainment systems, and consumer electronics. These are the chips that make visuals possible, translating data into screen pixels.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project is part of a larger semiconductor roadmap backed by the government. “This is going to be one of six semiconductor units being set up across the country,” he stated, adding that one of those could be inaugurated later this year.
Why does it matter? Because India imports nearly all its chips today. With this plant, that may begin to change.
What makes this project stand out?
There’s been no shortage of semiconductor buzz in India. But actual fabrication units? That’s been the missing piece—until now. The HCL-Foxconn project is among the few that have secured full central clearance and capital commitment.
Here’s why this project could shift gears for India:
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₹3,706 crore investment by two seasoned players
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20,000 wafers per month capacity
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Direct job creation for 2,000 individuals
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Strategic location in the emerging YEIDA tech corridor
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Expected production by 2027
The location matters. Jewar isn’t just a name on the map anymore. With the upcoming Noida International Airport, expressways, and now this chip unit, it’s turning into a serious industrial and tech hotspot.
Yogi Adityanath’s big win—and big words
It didn’t take long for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to put out a statement. “A historic step toward an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he called it. And on social media platform X, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pushing India toward self-sufficiency in chip manufacturing.
His words weren’t just ceremonial. UP has been trying hard to shake off its older image and reinvent itself as an investment-friendly tech state. From data centers in Noida to defense corridors and now semiconductors, this new project bolsters that image.
“India is now moving toward global leadership in semiconductor manufacturing,” he wrote.
One sentence, but loaded with ambition.
The numbers tell the real story
Let’s zoom out for a second. Semiconductors are the brain of every digital product. And India, despite being a major electronics consumer, still imports roughly 90% of its chips. That dependency has become a pain point—especially after COVID supply shocks and geopolitical flare-ups.
Now, here’s how this unit stacks up compared to others announced so far:
| Plant Location | Company | Investment (₹ Cr) | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewar (UP) | HCL-Foxconn | 3,706 | Display driver chips | Approved |
| Dholera (Gujarat) | Micron Technology | 22,500 | ATMP unit | Under construction |
| Sanand (Gujarat) | Tata Group | 91,000 | Full-scale fab | Cleared |
| Mysuru (Karnataka) | ISMC Analog Fab | 22,900 | Analog semiconductor chips | Awaiting funding |
Even if this plant isn’t the biggest in terms of cost or chip type, its approval means a lot—because it actually got a green light with a firm deadline.
What happens next?
This is just the beginning. The production is expected to kick off by 2027. That means the next two years will involve site development, machinery procurement, and workforce hiring. It’s a long game.
For local youth and engineering graduates, that spells opportunity. For global investors, it sends a signal: India isn’t just talking semiconductors anymore—it’s building them.
For YEIDA, it’s validation. The authority has been pitching itself as India’s “Silicon Valley in the making” for a while now. With this approval, it finally has something to show.
