India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday stated that critical and emerging technologies (CET) like semiconductors could emerge as the barometers of power in a globalized world.
"If the very nature of our economic and social activities undergo a transformation as a result, it is not surprising that CET should now emerge as one of the important metrics of power," Jaishankar said in his address to the attendees of the "Semicon India 2023" event organized in Gujarat's largest city Ahmedabad.
"Who invents, who manufactures, what are the market shares, where are the resources, who has the skills, where is the talent pool - these are increasingly the crucial questions," he added.
Although India's top diplomat dismissed claims of a "Chip War" in the world at this stage, he pointed out that the field of CET had indeed become politicized.
"The depiction of a Chip War may be somewhat overstated, but it has more than a fundamental kernel of truth. To a considerable extent, concerns in the CET field are influenced by how market shares and production dominance was leveraged in other areas. Technology trade is not just trade; it is as much as about political science," the Indian EAM elaborated.
Jaishankar noted that countries, especially advanced nations that have expertise in critical technologies, were using it to accomplish their strategic goals.
"The truth is that we are seeing the re-emergence of export controls as a response to strategic assertions of economic strength. How to do business needs to be tempered with where and with whom to do it," the minister commented.
Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when New Delhi has ramped up its efforts to emerge as a semiconductor manufacturing hub.
In recent weeks, the government of India has signed agreements with multiple firms, including American chip producer Micron to set up semiconductor manufacturing plants in the South Asian nation.
In recent weeks, the government of India has signed agreements with multiple firms, including American chip producer Micron to set up semiconductor manufacturing plants in the South Asian nation.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about his government's efforts to make India self-reliant in this sector.
"To expedite the growth of the semiconductor sector in the country, we are continuously undertaking policy reforms. We are working with partner countries for a comprehensive roadmap for semiconductor industry," Modi stressed.
In this context, Jaishankar emphasized that India's "semiconductor mission" was not just about meeting domestic requirements.
"It is also about contributing to a global demand for trusted manufacturing. Indeed, it is truly a powerful case for Make in India and Make for the World," Jaishankar summed up.