VOL XXIV, ISSUE 20

31 October 2023

Industry Scan

  INDUSTRY  SCAN                                                                             

General

India’s Semiconductor Industry To Create 12 Lakh Job Opportunities In The Coming Years

Over the past few years, India’s semiconductor industry has seen a massive transformation backed by numerous schemes and incentives. The industry has unleashed a huge escalation in employment opportunities coupled with a range of semiconductor fabrication centers and research and development centers. According to the experts, in the coming five years, the country would witness around one lakh new semiconductor design engineers. For instance, the US based global semiconductor firm Micron has already commenced hiring talents for its new plant in Sanand and over thirty students have received the offer to join the company, according to Analytics India Magazine.

Source: https://circuitdigest.com/, October 25, 2023

IBM Inks Pact With MeitY To Set-up New R&D Center For Semiconductor and Grow Skilling in AI

In an effort to grow the skilling in artificial intelligence (AI) and research and development, semiconductors, and quantum technologies in the country, the US based international technology company IBM has signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Speaking of the three MoUs, IBM aims to set-up a national AI Innovation Platform backed by the IndiaAI Program. In fact, an all-new research center for the semiconductor R&D ecosystem will be formed under the agreement and there will be efforts to build quantum services and related infrastructure in the country.

Source: https://circuitdigest.com/, October 19, 2023

India Marches On With Dream of Becoming Next Semiconductor Power

The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in July 2023 between India and Japan for Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership. The MoC, which is to be signed soon, lays the foundation for both Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) collaboration to explore opportunities for bolstering a resilient semiconductor supply chain, capitalising on each other’s strengths. Semiconductors are a strategic technological asset in today’s globalised world. From car batteries, laptops, smartphones, household appliances, gaming consoles to everything in between, semiconductors are the fulcrum that powers today’s electronic world. A world without semiconductors would be drastically different.

Source: https://www.news18.com/, October 28, 2023

Sahasra Semiconductors becomes first Indian firm to produce memory chips

Rajasthan-based Sahasra Semiconductors has started the commercial production of the first Made in India memory chips, surpassing even Micron. The company reportedly kicked off production at its semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging unit located in Rajasthan's Bhiwadi district earlier this month. Early this June, the US-based memory chip giant, Micron Technology, announced its plans to set up a semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Gujarat, with an estimated total investment of nearly Rs 22,540 crore.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/, October 28, 2023

Slow-moving quasiparticles make the fastest semiconductor in the world

Researchers at Columbia University in the US have developed the fastest and most efficient superconductor that works at room temperature, a press release said. The superconductor is made of superatomic material only known by its chemical formula, Re6Se8Cl2. In a short span of time, silicon has become an integral part of most modern-day equipment ranging from cell phones to cars, computers to smart homes. However, scientists have found that silicon will soon reach its limits. This is because of the atomic structure of the semiconductor.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/, October 26, 2023

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Information Technology

‘This is India’s moment and it needs to be competitive,’ says Secretary of MeitY

 After witnessing a remarkable revival in the electronics manufacturing sector in the last 5 years, India is now looking at creating a favourable ecosystem around semiconductors to become a global leader, said S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, on Friday. India now aims to make the best of the opportunity to lead this technology revolution, Krishnan said while speaking at the 10th Annual Forum of the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) in New Delhi. Sharing India’s prowess in the manufacturing sector, Krishnan said that while a lot still needs to be done, India has begun exporting mobile phones.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 27, 2023

US, India share vision around technology, AI

On October 12, in the United States of America, Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM had met with the US President Joe Biden and his senior leadership team for establishing guidelines for deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost both productivity and economic competitiveness. Just a day later, in India, seven working groups of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) submitted the first edition of IndiaAI report to Minister of state of Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Looking at the developments in both the countries, Danish Faruqui, CEO of Fab Economics says, “Impeccably similar events on AI in US and India happened concurrently today for operationalizing AI deployment across respective nations truly confirming the shared vision of US and India.”

Source: By Nidhi Singal, https://www.businesstoday.in/, October 14, 2023

Parl panel discusses issues with tech firms in Mumbai

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (IT) on Monday met senior officials from all major social media platforms and discussed monopolistic practices, content and ad moderation, election misinformation, promotion algorithms and parental control, among others, people aware of the matter said. The panel, which is currently on a study tour that ends Tuesday, “amicably discussed” multiple issues with senior policy officials from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Snap, Koo, ShareChat and Dailyhunt in Mumbai, the people added.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/, october 11, 2023

FIIs raise stakes in major IT firms in Q2 despite weak earnings outlook

Foreign investors increased their holdings in major information technology (IT) companies in India, such as Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, and Wipro, in the September 2023 quarter, despite anticipated weak earnings. This is a shift from their previous trend of exiting IT firms due to a gloomy outlook. In the second quarter of the financial year 2023-24 (Q2 FY24), foreign institutional investors (FIIs) increased their ownership in Infosys to 33.59 percent from 33.43 percent a quarter ago and at TCS to 12.47 percent from 12.46 percent over the same period, according to the latest shareholding pattern data on stock exchanges.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/, October 26, 2023

Merely liking a post not an offence under IT Act, rules Allahabad High Court

Liking a post on social media applications like Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) cannot be punishable under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act because it does not amount to “publishing or transmitting” the post, the Allahabad High Court has now held in a recent judgement, adding that the provision can be attracted if a person had instead shared or retweeted it. The Single Judge Bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal was hearing an application to quash charges filed against one Mohammed Imran Kazi, who had been accused by Agra police in 2019 of making posts that led to the assembly of 600-700 Muslims for a procession without permit, thereby threatening peace and security.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/, October 27, 2023

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Telecom

Indian telecom industry’s talent demand-supply gap at 2.41 million, to jump 3.8 times by 2030

India has emerged as the fastest nation to rollout 5G network in the world, but at the same time the telecom industry is facing severe talent crunch. Currently, the telecom demand-supply gap is at 2.41 million, which is expected to jump to 3.8 times by 2030, says a report released by Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC). The report, ‘Telecom Talent in 5G Era: Demand Supply Skill Gap Report 2023-24’ by TSSC, India’s premier skill development institution for the telecom sector, in association with Draup, says a key challenge lies in the fact that only 40% of India’s graduates in computer science, IT, and math are employable in the technology sector due to the mismatch between academic requirements and industry demands.

Source: By Nidhi Singal, www.businesstoday.in, October 27, 2023

Govt wants India's telecom service to remain most affordable in entire world: Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The government wants India's telecom service to remain the most affordable in the entire world, union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. According to the telecom sector industry body Cellular Operators Association of India, telecom operators have not been able to monetise 5G service since its launch last year. According to analysts, telecom operators need an average revenue per user (ARPU) in the range of Rs 270-300 over next three years to realise the investments they are making in building 5G networks.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/, October 29, 2023

Vodafone Idea will make significant investments for 5G rollout, says Kumar Mangalam Birla

Vodafone Idea will make significant investments in the upcoming quarters for the rollout of its 5G network as well as expanding its existing 4G coverage, chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said at the India Mobile Congress 2023 in New Delhi. Birla did not share any specific timeline as to when Vodafone Idea will roll out its 5G network. In an interview with CNBC-TV18 in October last year, Birla said that the telecom operator would roll out its 5G network "soon", a comment reiterated in April this year.

Source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/, October 27, 2023

BSNL plans to launch 4G service in December; pan-India roll-out by June next year

State-owned telecom firm BSNL is planning to launch 4G service in December at a small scale and then roll it out across the country by June next year, Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar said on Saturday. Speaking to PTI at the India Mobile Congress, Purwar said that the company plans to upgrade 4G service to 5G after June. BSNL 4G service is ready for launch in Punjab in December. We have already done the hardening required for a network with 200 sites. We are in the process of installing 3,000 sites in Punjab.

Source: https://www.zeebiz.com/, October 28, 2023

Ericsson announces setting up 6G research and development centre in Chennai

Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson on Saturday announced setting up a 6G research and development centre in Chennai. Ericsson is also looking to partner with other premier engineering institutes in India for 6G-related research. This R&D centre in India is a small unit which will become bigger. We only have three in the world. One in Sweden, second in the US and the third one in India. They are all cooperating in 6G-based research. Ericsson's rival Nokia has already set up a 6G lab in Bangalore about two weeks back.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/, October 28, 2023

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EV’s & Auto Electronics

The new made-in-India EV charging standard for bikes and scooters: here’s why it matters

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has approved an indigenously developed AC and DC combined charging connector standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as scooters, bikes, and rickshaws. Electric vehicle (EV) charging connector standards are conceptually similar to charging connector standards for mobile phones, such as the USB Type-C charger or Apple’s lightning charger. The new standard, ISI7017 (Part 2 / Sec 7): 2023, cleared by BIS last week, has been developed through collaboration among NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy, and various other government and industry stakeholders.

Source: By Aggam Walia, https://indianexpress.com/, October 27, 2023

ICE vehicles to coexist with EVs for another 10-15 years in India: MD & CEO, Kia India

The South Korean carmaker is gearing up to capture 10% of the Indian passenger vehicle market within a few years and planning to bring three new products by 2025. The company also plans to expand its network to 600 touch points by 2028. Kia is working on building Kia 2.0 as India is a long-term bet. It is the sixth-largest market for Kia Corporation which contributes 8-9% to our global sales.

Source: By Deepanshu Taumar & Arushi Rawat, https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 27, 2023

More alarm bells sound on slowing demand for electric vehicles

High interest rates are derailing the ambitions of climate regulators and automakers to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, underscored Wednesday by the scrapping of a GM-Honda partnership and a warning from a battery maker. Electric vehicle sales are still growing strongly, but that demand is not keeping up with the expectations of carmakers and other companies that have invested billions of dollars in the EV space. Expectations for persistently higher interest rates has led companies to alter plans as they eye 2024 warily. EV demand next year could be lower than expectations," Lee Chang-sil, chief financial officer at South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution said on Wednesday, due to global economic uncertainty.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/, October 26, 2023

Ford will postpone about $12 billion in EV investment as buyers become more cautious

Ford Motor said Thursday that many customers in North America are no longer willing to pay a premium for an electric vehicle over an internal-combustion or hybrid alternative. As a result, it’s postponing about $12 billion in planned spending on new EV manufacturing capacity. Customers’ reluctance to pay extra for EVs has complicated Ford’s ambitious and expensive plans to sharply increase production of those vehicles. While Ford’s – and the industry’s – sales of EVs are growing, they aren’t growing at the pace Ford had expected. Ford executives emphasized that the company isn’t cutting back its spending on future electric vehicle models. But it now plans to ramp up its EV manufacturing capacity, and its spending on that capacity, more gradually than previously planned.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/, October 26, 2023

Mercedes says electric car market is ‘brutal’ for manufacturers

Mercedes-Benz has said the electric car market is “brutal” for carmakers as heavy competition forces them to cut prices. Sales of electric cars are soaring in Europe and China, with the US further behind, but the rush of new launches is putting pressure on European manufacturers in particular, who are struggling to compete with cheap models coming from China. Harald Wilhelm, the chief financial officer of Mercedes-Benz, said the electric car industry was “a pretty brutal space”, on an analyst call on Thursday, Reuters reported, after the German carmaker reported a fall in profits.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/, October 26, 2023

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Defence & Solar

ISRO may soon use nuclear resources to maintain instruments in rover

 The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to use nuclear resources to maintain the instruments attached to the rover in warm conditions in future, as the lunar temperature would dip to -150 Celsius, according to P Veeramuthuvel, project director, Chandrayaan-3. He said the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 has revived the student community’s interest in the field of science. The electronics attached to the rover were designed to function for a lunar day (14 days) and they were functioning very actively for the said period with the help of solar energy.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 29, 2023

Armenia keen to expand defence links with India as conflict festers

Armenia is keen to expand its defence ties with India, its deputy foreign minister Mnatsakan Safaryan said, in the aftermath of its bitter conflict with Azerbaijan. The country has appointed a defence attaché to its Embassy in New Delhi in order to scope out potential for further cooperation. In 2020, India sold the Swathi weapon-locating radar system to Armenia. After this, a bilateral deal was struck for New Delhi to supply Yerevan anti-tank munitions, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and ammunition.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/, October 25, 2023

DRDO software to test psychological fitness of crpf personnel on vip duty

To improve efficiency of its over 1,000 personnel pressed into VIP security duty, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has started using a computerised psychological evaluation test based on a software prepared by the DRDO, paving the way for an IT-based and upgraded assessment that is also relied upon by forces like the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG). The software handed over by DRDO to CRPF is helping replace the paper-based test that has been used all these years to assess an individual’s abilities related to decision-making and handling tricky situations.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 29, 2023

India pursuing legal, diplomatic routes to free navy veterans facing death in qatar

India has swung into action to secure the release of the eight Indian Navy veterans whose life is at stake in Qatar after they were handed the death sentence by the Qatari Court of First Instance on “espionage” charges. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitoring the development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has discussed all possible legal and diplomatic options with several experts to overcome the “hurdles” in the case. While legal opinion has been sought from the experts of international law and Qatari laws to challenge the verdict in Doha, officials at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are sifting through the pages of various documents and books containing various legal matters, sources told The Sunday Guardian. 

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 29, 2023 

India’s growing economic power matches its defence capabilities: Rajnath Singh 

Defense minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India’s growing economic power matches its defence capabilities as he visited forward posts in Arunachal Pradesh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. People have realised that we are not only growing as an economic power but the same trajectory is seen in our defence capabilities as well. Earlier, we used to import almost all arms and weapons. Before 2014, our annual arms and weapons exports were worth around ₹1100 crores.  

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/, October 24, 2023

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Consumer Electronics

Daewoo enters Indian consumer electronics & appliance market through Kelwon Electronics

South Korean brand Daewoo has entered into fast-growing Indian consumer electronics and appliances market through its licensee partner Kelwon Electronics & Appliances, which has plans to invest around Rs 300 crore in the next three years. Kelwon, which sells products, including Lithium Hybrid Inverters and LED TVs, will introduce products in sectors such as energy and power, and consumer electronics, under brand Daewoo - now owned by South Korean conglomerate POSCO DAEWOO. As per its marketing strategy, Kelwon would adopt a twin brand strategy, where it will place the products under Daewoo in the premium and mid-premium segment, while mass to mid-premium would be catered through its own brand, its Managing Director H S Bhatia said.

Source: https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 26, 2023

SWIR technology is coming to consumer electronics

Short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging and sensing is coming to consumer electronics. This technology, that has previously been limited to defence and machine vision applications, enables the capture and use of vast quantities of ‘invisible’ data, and its proliferation in this new market sector will drastically improve the performance of existing sensors, ushering in a revolution in what consumer devices can do. From wearable electronics that can track health conditions in real time, to household appliances that can detect food freshness, SWIR sensing capability will be essential for bringing specialist applications to high street devices.

Source: newelectronics.co.uk, October 26, 2023

Apple to make tools and parts to fix phones, computers available nationwide: White House

Mac computer and iPhone maker Apple on Tuesday will announce plans to make parts tools and documentation needed to repair its products available to independent repair shops and consumers nationwide, at fair and reasonable prices, the White House said. National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard made the announcement in remarks prepared for a White House event later Tuesday focused on the so-called "right to repair," calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring such action across the country.

Source: https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 25, 2023

Revolutionizing Displays: OLED Panels Transform Consumer Electronics and Televisions, Driving Market Expansion

The global OLED panel market has demonstrated impressive growth, reaching a significant US$ 35.8 Billion in 2022. Projections from industry experts indicate continued expansion, with the market poised to reach a substantial US$ 71.0 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2% during the period from 2023 to 2028. Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) panels are constructed from organic materials that emit light when an electric current is applied. These panels consist of a substrate, backplane, frontplane, and encapsulation layer to prevent oxygen and moisture infiltration.

Source: https://www.globenewswire.com/, October 25, 2023

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EMSIF

(Special section of the MSME related news under ELCINA Micro & Small Industry Forum)

Five MSME lending products complete test phase under RBI's sandbox cohort

Five MSME lending products have completed the test phase under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulatory sandbox cohort, RBI said in a release on Friday. Products of the entities that completed the test phase were evaluated based on mutually agreed test scenarios and expected outcomes, the release said. The entities whose products have completed the test phase are FinAGG Technologies Private Limited, Mynd Solutions Private Limited, Rupifi Technology Solutions Private Limited, Small Industries Development Bank of India, and SysArc Infomatix Private Limited.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/, October 27, 2023

How a climate-proofed MSME sector can drive Tamil Nadu’s EV leadership

Tamil Nadu is gearing up to be a global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub, with the government seeking to attract ₹50,000 crore in investments and envisioning 1.5 lakh new jobs in the EV sector in the next five years. Investments worth almost ₹40,000 crore is already underway, and as per recent data, Tamil Nadu is one of the largest EV manufacturing states in India, producing more than 40% of all registered EVs and 46% of electric two-wheelers. Yet, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) hold the key to unlocking the potential of these investments and future growth. Climate-related extreme events such as heatwaves and floods are already impacting life, livelihoods and productivity in India; With a thriving MSME sector, Tamil Nadu can demonstrate how becoming a global EV manufacturing hub can be achieved while ensuring a just and inclusive transition.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/, October 26, 2023

MSME-registration platform Udyam crosses 3 crore registration mark; Check details

The government’s online registration platform for MSMEs has crossed the 3 crore registration mark in just three years and four months of its launch, according to the data on the Udyam platform. As of today, October 27, the Udyam platform reflects 3 crore registered enterprises, including 96.72 lakh non-GST small businesses registered on the Udyam Assist platform. Udyam is the only platform by the MSME Ministry authorised for registering micro, small and medium enterprises with up to Rs 250 crore turnover. The majority of the enterprises registered on the platform are micro-enterprises, constituting 2.93 crores of the total 3 crore enterprises on the platform.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/, October 27, 2023

Policy and data support can boost MSMEs’ role as drivers of future growth: ADB report

Providing policy and data support to micro, small and medium enterprises can boost their role as drivers of growth in the economy, according to Asia Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Monitor 2023, published today by the Asian Development Bank. Further, it states that the MSME sector played a vital role in the recovery of the economies of Asia and the Pacific region. According to the report, initiatives such as “the formalization of small businesses, reskilling, and upskilling of workers, along with the integration of digital tools and technology, economic diversification, and increasing access to new and innovative financing can create a fertile environment” for these businesses to contribute to sustainable growth.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/, October 24, 2023

Axis Bank To Boost Small-Ticket And Microfinance Loans, MSME Book Surpasses Rs 2 Lakh Crore

 Axis Bank, one of India's leading financial institutions, has disclosed plans to enhance its small-ticket loans, crop loans for small farmers, and microfinance business loans aimed at low-income women. The announcement was made by the bank's CEO, Amitabh Chaudhry, at the India SME 100 Awards earlier this week. The bank has established a 'Bharat Bank' unit that focuses on rural-centric products. This unit operates in collaboration with Common Service Centers (CSCs), village entrepreneurs, and agri-commodity ecosystems.

Source: https://www.investing.com/, October 27, 2023

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ELCINA EVENTS , ACTIVITIES & SERVICES 

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ELCINA Publications

https://elcina.com/roadmap-for-developing-pcb-eco-system-in-india	Roadmap For Developing PCB Eco-System in India Key Findings Indian PCB market and industry size in terms of domestic production, exports, and imports Growth drivers and challenges (needs & gaps) in the Indian PCB industry Growth potential of PCB manufacturing in India and identify enablers for creating & strengthening the domestic value chain Key inputs required viz. investments, technology, and infra eco-system Details of key PCB value chain players – global and domestic, who can be invited to invest to establish a strong PCB industry
https://elcina.com/ems-task-force-report-on-market-industry-analysis-of-ems-sector-in-india	EMS Task Force Report Key Findings Currently EMS Industry (Contract Manufacturing Services) are valued 832 Bn $ and are projected to grow 1055 Bn by 2025. Domestic electronics manufacturing is estimated at USD 75 Bn of which 39 Bn constitutes EMS value. This is divided into 23.5 Bn domestic Mfg. and USD 15.5 Bn PCBS/Sub-Assembly imports. Further USD 53.5 Bn is finished Electronic Goods imports of which USD 17 Bn is EMS value. Thus total EMS opportunity loss is US$ 32.5 Bn (15.5 +17). The report estimates that EMS production can grow realistically from USD 23.5 Bn today to USD 152 Bn by 2025 at CAGR of 45%. This will meet 75% of the countries EMS requirement of US$ 203 Bn by 2025 against a total estimated market of 400 Bn.
https://elcina.com/elcina-task-force-report-on-electronic-components	ELCINA Task Force Report on Electronic Components Key Findings Current status of component manufacturing in India – Areas of competence vs Gaps and inadequacies Components which urgently require investments and growth in domestic manufacturing Emerging technology and new components for upcoming opportunities Constraints and bottlenecks to be addressed Overcoming Policy constraints, WTO (ITA-1) deadlock and Zero Duty issue Strategy for overcoming these constraints Eco-System requirements- Role of Central and State Governments
https://elcina.com/elcina-directory-of-indian-electronics-industry	ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry 2022-23 Description ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry – includes the updates on Indian Electronics Industry and a host of additional improved features covering business environment, statistical industry scan, company databases plus various projections. This handy compendium with its easy-to-read format attracts the attention of a growing number of users (within India and abroad) Apart from electronics industry, the users of this Directory range from financial institutions, commercial banks, FIIs, Consultancy organizations as well as industry promotion institutes across the world….

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