Semiconductor incentives before Budget

MUMBAI: Indian government���s proposed incentives to attract semiconductor manufacturing in India are likely to be announced before the Budget. The Union Cabinet has already given an in-principle approval to the special incentive package prepared by the department of information technology for semiconductor and other hi-tech industries. Announcing this in Mumbai on Wednesday, Dayanidhi Maran said the incentive package would be announced before the coming Budget.

Speaking about the incentive package, Maran said: ���Although India already houses a unit in Mohali, it is very outdated and now the economy cannot afford to miss out on this opportunity." Maran further expressed hope that the incentives would allow a shift of semiconductor manufacturing from China to India. Maran, however, did not comment on the specifics. The proposed package of incentives is targeted at semiconductors, LCDs, plasma panels, solar and photovoltaic cells, advanced micro and nano devices as well as assembly and testing operations.