Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced in Bengaluru today the approval for setting of the Rs 180 crore worth Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Dharwad which is expected to create over 18,000 jobs.

The project, which is being set up at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad District of Karnataka under EMC 2.0 scheme, is expected to catalyse investments to the tune of over Rs 1,500 crore soon. Nine companies, including start-ups have already committed to make investment of Rs 340 crore with employment potential of 2,500 people.

“Karnataka is emerging as a global Electronics manufacturing hub for the world, just as it is already a telecom hub with Apple plants in Kolar (Wistron) and Devanahalli (Foxconn). These new investments are creating jobs and development. The Narendra Modi government is committed to build India as a manufacturing hub as part of its ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ policies,” the Minister said.

This EMC has strategic locational advantage and well connected with NH -48 (1 Km), Hubli Domestic Airport (33 Km) which will reduce the logistics/ transportation cost of the industry in the EMC.

The Centre has already approved a Common Facility Centre (CFC) for development of an advanced testing facility in Mysore, Karnataka that will meet the various testing requirement of the industry.

The Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme was introduced on 1st April 2020 with an objective to create world class infrastructure along with common testing facilities, including Ready Built Factory sheds/Plug & Play infrastructure for attracting Anchor unit along with their supply chain to set up their manufacturing/production facility in the country.

Under the Scheme, three Electronics Manufacturing Clusters over an area of 1,337 acres with project cost of Rs 1,903 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 889 crore have been approved which projected investment target of Rs 20,910 crore. As a result of these initiatives by the Government, India has come a long way in electronics manufacturing in the past eight years.