In a significant stride toward achieving self-reliance in India's electronics manufacturing sector,  Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav inaugurated Sirma SGS Technologies' advanced laptop assembly facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Friday, January 10, under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) facility marks the growth of India's 'Make in India' initiative, which ranges from mobile phones to IT hardware, including laptops.

The expansion of production capacity begins with the initial production capacity of the new assembly line, which is 100,000 laptops per annum, which can be increased to 1 million units in 1-2 years. Sirma SGS operates four units in Chennai and has started manufacturing laptops at its third facility.

At the event, Vaishnav stressed the need to create India's electronic components ecosystem in line with India's vision of a self-reliant India or Atmanirbhar Bharat.

"We must work meticulously to ensure that the electronic component ecosystem is also developed in the coming time. This will not only drive a major growth story for India but also align with our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, fostering self-reliance and strengthening our position in the global electronics manufacturing landscape," Vaishnaw stated.

This project comes under the PLI 2.0 scheme for IT hardware and showcases India's rising capacities in manufacturing high-value electronics.

There are also some important features of this facility. This begins with Global Collaboration as Syrma SGS has teamed up with Micro-Star International (MSI), a Taiwanese technology company, to manufacture laptops for both domestic and foreign markets. By FY26, the facility will provide 150-200 specialised electronics manufacturing employment, helping drive regional and national economic growth. Laptops manufactured will meet global standards for quality, demonstrating India's growing technological and manufacturing abilities.

India's electronics manufacturing sector has witnessed a substantial shift, with production increasing from Rs 2.4 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 9.8 lakh crore in 2024.

Mobile phone production reached Rs 4.4 lakh crore, and exports reached Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Especially now, 98% of mobile phones used in India are made in the country, which makes smartphones the fourth largest export product.