Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed strong confidence that India will soon achieve self-reliance in the semiconductor sector and emerge as an exporter, despite entering the industry later than several other global economies. Addressing the Abhyudaya: Madhya Pradesh Growth Summit in Gwalior, Shah said India’s entry into the semiconductor ecosystem, though delayed, has been decisive and transformative.
“We may have entered the semiconductor industry late, but it has been a spectacular entry,” Shah said. “In a short span of time, India will not only meet its domestic semiconductor requirements but will also begin exporting to the world.”
The summit was organised on the occasion of the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was born in Gwalior. During the event, Shah inaugurated industrial projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore across Madhya Pradesh, signalling a major push toward industrial expansion and investment-driven growth in the State.
Focus on Balanced Regional Development
A significant portion of Shah’s address focused on Madhya Pradesh’s approach to decentralised industrial development. He praised Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for organising regional investment summits across different parts of the State instead of concentrating development in a few urban centres.
Shah noted that the concept of structured industrial conclaves was first popularised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister through the Vibrant Gujarat summit. While that model successfully attracted large-scale investments, Shah said Madhya Pradesh has taken the concept further by tailoring investment summits to regional strengths.
“Mohan Yadav ji has initiated a new model of holding regional investment conclaves to ensure balanced development,” Shah said. “This approach will benefit not only Madhya Pradesh but can serve as a blueprint for other States seeking equitable growth.”
Highlighting the State’s central geographical location, Shah said Madhya Pradesh is uniquely positioned to become a major industrial hub, provided development reaches all regions evenly.
Reviving Traditional Sectors Through Industrial Policy
Shah cited the example of cotton farming in the Malwa and Chambal regions to underline how targeted industrial initiatives can revive traditional livelihoods. Cotton, once a staple crop in these regions, had seen a sharp decline due to poor price realisation.
“With the establishment of PM MITRA textile parks, cotton has once again become a profitable crop for farmers,” Shah said, adding that such sector-specific interventions can unlock dormant economic potential across regions.
He also highlighted that Madhya Pradesh has set a national record by establishing approximately 4.57 lakh new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within a single year, calling it a milestone achievement for entrepreneurship and employment generation.
India’s Broader Economic Transformation
Expanding beyond Madhya Pradesh, Shah outlined what he described as India’s rapid economic and technological transformation under the BJP-led Union government. He said India’s foreign exchange reserves recently crossed the $700 billion mark, reflecting strong macroeconomic fundamentals.
Shah pointed to the dramatic expansion of digital connectivity across the country. “When Prime Minister Modi took office, India had around seven crore internet users. By September 2025, that number has crossed 101 crore,” he said.
He added that 4G connectivity now covers 95% of the country, while efforts are underway to extend 5G services to 99% of India’s population. India also accounted for nearly 50% of global digital transactions during the 2024–25 financial year, Shah said, calling it a testament to the success of the Digital India initiative.
Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Ease of Doing Business
Shah said India has emerged as a global manufacturing powerhouse in several sectors. “Sixty percent of the world’s vaccines are manufactured in India today, and we are the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally,” he noted.
He also highlighted improvements in India’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, which rose from 142 in 2014 to 63 in recent years. Infrastructure development has seen significant acceleration, with national highway length expanding from 90,000 km during the UPA years to an additional 1.5 lakh km built under the current government. Rural road connectivity has also doubled, from 3.81 lakh km to 7.84 lakh km, he said.
Tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Paying homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah described him as a towering statesman who combined political acumen with cultural sensitivity. “Vajpayee ji was a great orator, a sensitive poet, and a leader who remained an ajatashatru without enemies in politics,” he said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, speaking at the summit, credited Shah’s strategic guidance for Madhya Pradesh’s success in eliminating Maoist activity in the State. He said the surrender of 13 Maoists in the past two months marked the final chapter of left-wing extremism in Madhya Pradesh.
With major investments, ambitious industrial goals, and a renewed push for technological self-reliance, the summit underscored the government’s vision of positioning both Madhya Pradesh and India as key drivers of future economic growth.
