Tamil Nadu stands tall in the electronics sector and has emerged as India’s No. 1 state in electronics exports, with shipments valued at USD 14.65 billion, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday. He asserted that his government’s primary objective is to position Tamil Nadu as a key global hub for electronics manufacturing.Speaking after inaugurating a new electronic equipment manufacturing facility set up by Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies (BIG TECH)—a joint initiative of US-based Corning International Limited and India’s Optiemus Infracomm Ltd—at the Kancheepuram SIPCOT Industrial Park, the Chief Minister said the project, established at an investment of ₹1,003 crore, will generate 840 jobs.
Describing the inauguration as a significant milestone, Mr Stalin said Tamil Nadu contributes about 41 per cent of India’s total electronics exports.
“Over the past four years, we have achieved a nine-fold growth in this sector. This is not merely a statistic — it is a clear and emphatic statement that Tamil Nadu is truly the Electronics Capital of India,” he said.
“Our ultimate aim is to position Tamil Nadu as a key hub for electronics manufacturing on the global stage,” the Chief Minister reiterated.
To achieve this, the State government has launched a dedicated Electronic Components Manufacturing Initiative, designed to bring the entire value chain — from design to production — to Tamil Nadu.
“When the Union Government launched a similar scheme at the national level, Tamil Nadu became the first state in India to roll out a dedicated policy for electronic component manufacturing,” Mr Stalin said.
He pointed out that of the 24 applications approved under this scheme nationwide, eight — nearly one-third — are being implemented in Tamil Nadu, accounting for 40 per cent of the total investment.
The Chief Minister said the State is also focusing on semiconductor manufacturing and design, for which the government has launched the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Mission 2030. Last year, the government also unveiled the Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy, reinforcing its commitment to making Tamil Nadu a global hub for high-end electronics and semiconductor production.
He said it is due to the State’s long-term vision, forward-looking policies and business-friendly ecosystem that global investors are choosing Tamil Nadu, thereby creating meaningful employment opportunities for the youth.
Emphasising balanced and inclusive growth, Mr Stalin said major electronics companies have established their presence across multiple regions in the State, including Kancheepuram, Hosur, Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Tirunelveli. As a next step, the government is setting up an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Thoothukudi district, which will have strong port connectivity and world-class infrastructure.
He invited Corning and BIG TECH to bring their future projects to Thoothukudi and assured them of the government’s full support. He also appealed to them to expand investments in areas such as optical communications, display glass, solar silicon ingots, and automotive glass technologies.
“Together, we will combine your expertise in innovation and manufacturing with our robust ecosystem and skilled workforce to ensure seamless collaboration,” he said.
Highlighting the Dravidian Model government’s efficiency in converting MoUs into reality, Mr Stalin noted that the MoU for the BIG TECH project was signed in January last year, the foundation stone was laid in June, and the project was inaugurated within just 17 months.
“We have signed more than 1,000 Memorandums of Understanding, and nearly 80 per cent of them have reached different stages of implementation. The speed and transparency with which we operate send a powerful message to global investors about Tamil Nadu’s business-friendly environment,” he said.
Stating that ambition alone cannot turn dreams into reality, Mr Stalin said, “We work with discipline and a clear sense of purpose — and that is the essence of the Dravidian Model.”
He expressed confidence that the Corning-Optiemus joint venture will continue to grow, attract greater investments, and create more high-quality employment opportunities for the youth of Tamil Nadu.