Kolkata, 05 June (H.S.): In a significant development aimed at boosting the high-tech manufacturing sector in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Wednesday that land has already been allocated for a semiconductor project in the state. She made the announcement during a meeting with US Consul General in Kolkata, Cathy Giles-Diaz.

According to the Chief Minister, the state government has allotted 13,000 square feet of space within the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) campus in Salt Lake, Kolkata, for the project. The initiative is being spearheaded by GlobalFoundries, a major player in the global semiconductor industry. The project will initially focus on establishing a fab-less central unit, which will include critical operations such as design and testing, with potential plans for future expansion.

“We have initially allotted 13,000 square feet to the company. However, considering their growing requirements, an additional 19,000 square feet in the same premises is also being readied,” Banerjee said.

She further stated that joint training programs in collaboration with relevant universities are being planned as part of the initiative to build a skilled workforce.

Terming the project a “game changer,” Banerjee emphasized that it would not only help in building a robust semiconductor ecosystem in West Bengal but also position the state as a hub for technological innovation and development. “This initiative will open up meaningful employment opportunities for our youth and contribute significantly to strengthening the state’s economic capacity,” she added.

This move follows earlier high-level discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, where semiconductor collaboration was a key focus. The groundwork for the West Bengal project was laid during those talks, and implementation is now actively underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh