Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Nobumitsu Hayashi’s high‑level visit to Dholera Special Investment Region (Dholera SIR) in Gujarat has reinforced global confidence in India’s semiconductor mission and showcased Dholera’s rise as a world‑class greenfield smart industrial and semiconductor hub.
Strategic Review of India’s First ‘Semicon City’
Governor Hayashi led a JBIC delegation to the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) flagship industrial park at Dholera SIR to review the progress of India’s first emerging Semicon City and its rapidly expanding ‘plug‑and‑play’ industrial ecosystem.
The visit coincides with unprecedented momentum in India’s semiconductor manufacturing push, with Dholera positioned at the forefront as the country’s most ambitious greenfield smart industrial city under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
Strong Endorsement of Dholera’s Infrastructure and Governance
During the visit, Governor Hayashi praised Dholera’s world‑class planning, infrastructure readiness and robust governance framework, terming it a globally competitive destination for advanced electronics and semiconductor investments.
He highlighted Dholera’s integrated systems, scalable utilities and future‑ready infrastructure as key strengths that align with global investor expectations in high‑technology manufacturing.
Command Centre, Utilities and ‘Plug‑and‑Play’ Readiness
The delegation began its tour at the ABCD Building, Dholera’s administrative and command centre, where it reviewed the integrated planning framework, digital governance architecture and centralised utility management systems.
They then visited critical utility assets including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), the Experience Centre and the Torrent Power 400 kV substation, underscoring Dholera’s robust utility backbone and ‘ready‑to‑build’ manufacturing readiness.
Tata Electronics Fab: Anchor of India’s Semiconductor Ambitions
At the Tata Electronics Semiconductor Fabrication Facility inside Dholera SIR, the JBIC team held detailed discussions with Tata Group leadership and reviewed the 163‑acre fab being developed with an investment of ₹91,000 crore in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC).
The plant, India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication facility, is slated to begin production in 2027 with a capacity of 50,000 wafers per month across 110 nm to 28 nm nodes, creating over 20,000 high‑skilled jobs and integrating India deeper into global semiconductor value chains.
Boost to India–Japan Technological Collaboration
Governor Hayashi expressed optimism that the Tata–PSMC project at Dholera would significantly deepen India–Japan technological cooperation in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
He noted that JBIC views Dholera’s semiconductor ecosystem as an important platform for Japanese participation in India’s industrial transformation and for strengthening supply‑chain resilience in the Indo‑Pacific.
NICDC and DICDL Showcase Dholera’s Competitive Edge
NICDC Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Shri Rajat Kumar Saini briefed the delegation on Dholera SIR’s master planning, multimodal connectivity, utilities and investor pipeline.
Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL) Managing Director Shri Kuldeep Arya, along with senior officials from NICDC and DICDL, presented Dholera’s policy framework, incentive architecture and long‑term vision as India’s next major industrial and semiconductor hub.
Expanding Japanese Footprint Across NICDC Nodes
Japanese companies are steadily scaling their presence across NICDC industrial cities, reflecting sustained confidence in India’s manufacturing and logistics ecosystem.
The Toyota Group remains a leading investor with commitments exceeding ₹1,700 crore over more than 116 acres across multiple NICDC nodes, underlining deepening Japan–India industrial ties.
NX Logistics and Key Japanese Investors Strengthen Presence
NX Logistics India Private Limited has expanded from its 12.86‑acre facility in Shendra (AURIC) to a new facility in Dholera, taking its total investment to ₹86 crore and generating around 400 jobs.
Other Japanese firms, including Nippon Express, Nagata, Sango and Fuji Silvertech, are also ramping up operations across logistics, component manufacturing and industrial infrastructure solutions in NICDC‑linked projects.
High‑Level Japanese Delegations Underscore Investor Interest
Dholera has emerged as a focal point for strategic international and Japanese engagements exploring opportunities in semiconductors, electronics, advanced manufacturing and smart industrial ecosystems.
Earlier this year, Japan’s Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Mr. Ono Keiichi, led a 70‑member business delegation representing sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, machinery, infrastructure, logistics and financial services to Dholera SIR.
Visits by Iwate Prefecture and Japanese Agencies
On 4 September 2025, the Vice Governor of Iwate Prefecture, Mr. Jun Sasaki, accompanied by representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), visited Dholera to assess collaboration opportunities in industrial development and high‑technology manufacturing.
Over the past year, Dholera has hosted delegations from JBIC, the Japan Chamber of Commerce, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), JICA and several leading Japanese corporations, strengthening its profile as a preferred destination for Japanese capital.
Rising Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and ESDM
These sustained engagements with Japanese stakeholders, coupled with ongoing discussions on semiconductor, electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) and advanced manufacturing projects, highlight Dholera’s growing role in India–Japan industrial cooperation under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
Dholera’s strategic location, smart‑city design and integrated infrastructure are increasingly positioning it as a gateway for next‑generation industries looking to tap India’s large market and global export potential.
Social Infrastructure Powering a Live‑Work‑Invest Ecosystem
Alongside industrial and utility infrastructure, Dholera is rapidly building comprehensive social infrastructure to support investors, professionals and workers.
Key projects under development include a 200‑bed multispeciality hospital, an integrated school, a guest house, a corporate hotel, an international tent city, a multi‑cuisine food court and a modern fire station.
Residential and Commercial Development Gains Pace
Private developers are advancing residential and commercial projects within Dholera, including a mixed‑use complex in the Activation Area featuring apartments, retail spaces and business facilities.
This integrated social and commercial build‑out is critical to Dholera’s evolution into a complete smart industrial city where people can live, work and innovate in a single, well‑planned urban ecosystem.
Conclusion: Dholera at the Heart of India’s Semiconductor and Industrial Transformation
With rapid infrastructure build‑out, a robust pipeline of global and Japanese investors, and India’s most comprehensive emerging semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, Dholera SIR is poised to become a major driver of India’s industrial transformation.
Governor Hayashi’s visit from JBIC underscores rising international confidence in Dholera’s capabilities and its strengthening role in both global and India–Japan semiconductor value chains as India advances towards greater technological and economic self‑reliance.
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Source: PIB
