Zoho Group is set to establish a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Odisha with an investment of ₹3,034 crore. The venture, named Silectric Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, was formed by Zoho directors in March 2024 and aims to set up a silicon carbide manufacturing unit in Khurdha district.
The Odisha government’s High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) recently approved the proposal, as announced by Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development, and Technical Education, on social media. This approval is part of a broader initiative in which 12 major industrial projects worth ₹39,000 crore were cleared, with Silectric being one of the largest investments.
Silectric’s facility will cover the entire silicon carbide manufacturing process, from ingots to wafers, MOSFETs, modules, and modified assembly, marking, and packaging. The plant will operate on both captive and foundry service models, with an annual production capacity of 72,000 EPI wafers, 72,000 MOSFETs, and 72,000 modules.
The company has also applied to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) under India’s Semiconductor Mission for further support. The end products from Silectric’s facility will be used in power electronics, particularly in sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), automotive, and renewable energy.
Silectric’s board includes key Zoho executives: Navneethan Jai Anand, Radha Vembu, Dandapani Rajendran, and Krishnan Ramabadran. These directors are instrumental in leading Zoho’s semiconductor venture, which was hinted at earlier by Zoho co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu.
In May, Vembu mentioned that while the company wasn’t ready to announce specifics, they recognized the importance of semiconductor technology for India’s future and had plans to invest in the sector. Zoho’s move into semiconductor manufacturing aligns with India’s national strategy to become a major player in the global semiconductor industry.
The central government has been actively promoting semiconductor production as part of its vision for tech self-reliance. The Tata Group has already made significant strides in this space, and other major players like Vedanta have also announced their semiconductor manufacturing plans. Zoho has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding further details of the project.
