India Eyes Global Role in Electronics, AI Hub Push

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said India is set to emerge as a trusted global value chain and supply chain partner in electronic manufacturing, driven by strong policy support and rapid technological advancement.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, the minister highlighted the country’s growing capabilities in electronics, semiconductors and digital infrastructure.

The project, with an estimated investment of USD 15 billion, is being developed in partnership with Adani Group’s Adani ConneX and Airtel Nxtra. It will include a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre, with the Andhra Pradesh government allocating around 600 acres of land for its development.

Vaishnaw noted that India has already established itself as a global leader in IT services and is now rapidly advancing in electronics manufacturing, with mobile phones emerging as a major export segment. He added that nearly half of the country’s electronics demand is now met through domestic production.

Describing the project as transformative, the minister said Visakhapatnam is poised to become “AI Patnam”, a major hub for artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation. He credited Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for fostering a strong IT ecosystem in the state.

Industry leaders said the AI Hub will play a key role in India’s digital transformation and strengthen its position in the global AI economy, with applications across sectors such as healthcare, education, logistics and agriculture.

The event was attended by senior government officials, industry leaders and representatives from global technology firms, marking a significant step in India’s ambition to become a global technology powerhouse.