ET@Davos: Ashwini Vaishnaw on Chip Dreams Amidst Global Turmoil

In this episode of ET@Davos, ET's Sruthijith KK, Executive Editor, talks to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, about India's technology ambitions amid global uncertainty. As turbulence intensifies following President Trump's latest policy signals, India is emerging as a trusted partner in critical technology value chains. Leading India's largest-ever Davos delegation, Vaishnaw highlighted the nation's strategic focus on building resilience across technology, defense, and economic infrastructure. Semiconductor manufacturing marks a significant breakthrough—India's first commercial chip production begins in late February at Micron's Sanand facility. The country has mastered end-to-end design of cutting-edge two-nanometer chips, with a clear roadmap from eight-nanometer to two-nanometer production. India has forged strategic alliances with the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the EU for semiconductor development and rare earth processing. These trust-based partnerships emphasize co-creation and mutual value. The upcoming India AI Impact Summit will address AI monetization, democratization, and establishing innovation-friendly guardrails.