The Hindu Business Line : Moser Baer, Titan Energy, Videocon apply for units under fab policy

New Delhi, Dec. 17 Barely three months after it announced semiconductor policy guidelines, the Government has received formal proposals from three companies — Moser Baer, Videocon and Titan Energy — for availing themselves of incentives under the mega-scheme, with a combined investment value of about Rs 20,000 crore.

In addition, the IT Ministry has also received enquiries from 14 companies that include some of the biggest names in the industry such as Suzlon, Reliance, Solar Semiconductor, and Tatas.

Official sources said that while Moser Baer plans to manufacture solar photovoltaic cells/modules, Titan Energy Systems would start with solar cells and modules and get into wafer and poly-silicon, at a later stage. The proposal of Videocon pertains to a proposed LCD unit.

“The response to the semiconductor policy has been positive, and although it is still early days the applications by various players and the interest generated is heartening. The policy, along with the Ministry’s initiatives on hardware manufacturing and Information Technology Investment Regions will provide the necessary impetus,” Mr M. Madhavan Nambiar, Additional Secretary in the IT Department, said. The proposals will now be evaluated by an appraisal committee, headed by Mr Nambiar.

The Centre has announced capital subsidy for investors setting up chip manufacturing units — on offer is an incentive of 20 per cent of the capital expenditure during the first 10 years for the units within the special economic zone (SEZ) and 25 per cent of the capital expenditure for non-SEZ units.

Incentives have also been rolled out for setting up manufacturing facilities for liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting diodes, plasma display panels, photovoltaic cells, storage devices, solar cells and micro and nano technology products, including assembly and testing of these products.