The big announcements by players like Micron, Applied Materials and Lam Research during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit are a “significant and meaningful milestone” in expansion of the semiconductor ecosystem in the country, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said yesterday.

He also said the three proposals in the high tech arena strengthen the two countries’ resolve to shape the future of technology, products and services.

The announcements will create an estimated minimum 80,000 direct jobs, in addition to indirect jobs in the supply chain, Chandrasekhar, who is Minister of State for Electronics and IT, said, according to a PTI report.

The proposals will catalyse the electronics and semiconductor ecosystem, the minister said during a briefing, and added that in areas of AI (Artificial Intelligence), high performance computing, the partnership between India and the US will shape the future of technology.

His comments come amid the Prime Minister’s momentous and historic visit to the US, which is boosting diplomatic, economic and trade ties between both nations.

In a tweet earlier, Chandrasekhar termed the latest developments “big milestones” in India’s roadmap and growth as a semiconductor nation, and said the world recognises India’s rise as an economic and tech power.

The announcements include major investments by Global Memory and storage chipmaker Micron Tech in multi-billion dollar packaging facility, global semiconductor equipment leaders like Applied Materials’ new semiconductor centre for commercialisation and innovation and Lam Research’s training programme in India for up to 60,000 high tech engineers.