Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said the Government has received two proposals for setting up semiconductor manufacturing plants in the country and they will be sent to the Cabinet in the next two weeks for consideration.

“We have received two proposals to set up semiconductor manufacturing plants in India, which will go to the Cabinet in two weeks,” Sibal told presspersons here on the sidelines of CII’s IT Summit.

The investment envisaged for the two units is around Rs 25,000 crore. The exact level of Government support for these plants will be decided through negotiation with the chip makers.

The fabs are expected to bootstrap innovation and R&D, especially in the area of electronics, which will help generate about three crore jobs (direct and indirect) by 2020.

The Government has announced zero customs duty for the equipment required for setting up of the semiconductor (electronic chips) plants.

Sibal also said the Cabinet would consider the Electronics Delivery of Services Bill this evening.

“Today, in the evening, we have a Cabinet meet where the Electronics Delivery of Services Bill will come up for consideration. Just to be sure that the State Governments notify the (Government) services that they will provide electronically in the next five years,” Sibal said.

State Governments will get an additional three years, at the end of five years, to ensure all services are provided electronically, he said.

“That does not mean that services will not be available manually as infrastructure is built all services should be provided electronically. That will answer allegations of corruption. This will bring transparency,” Sibal added.

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