India Davos 2026 Signals Electronics Manufacturing Rise
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, global industry leaders spotlighted India’s expanding role as a manufacturing hub for electronics, marking a shift in supply‑chain dynamics as companies diversify away from China‑centric production systems. This evolution has implications for global trade flows, urban employment ecosystems and regional industrial policies.
The President and CEO of a major semiconductor and mobile technology firm underscored India’s growing attractiveness for electronics production as global manufacturers seek stable, diversified bases beyond traditional China hubs. India, alongside countries such as Vietnam, is increasingly viewed as a viable location for assembling and producing electronics, driven by competitive costs, enhanced infrastructure and targeted policy frameworks. Industry policymakers and Indian government officials at the forum highlighted how this transition is aligned with broader reforms aimed at strengthening value‑chain participation rather than simply serving as an assembly platform. The focus spans from attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in electronics to nurturing domestic capabilities in design, fabrication and advanced component production.
A senior union minister noted that electronics exports have climbed to become among India’s top export categories, reflecting a structural pivot in export patterns. Amid geopolitical uncertainties and tariff adjustments in major markets, Indian producers are reportedly discovering new opportunities beyond traditional trade corridors. Panel discussions at Davos also stressed the strategic importance of semiconductors and adjacent technology ecosystems. According to industry briefs presented at the event, India is progressing toward building a comprehensive chip ecosystem, spanning design, fabrication and packaging, with several semiconductor fabrication facilities expected to begin commercial output this year.
Global technology companies participating in WEF 2026 noted that supply‑chain resilience is now a core factor in investment decisions, with India’s sizeable domestic market, young talent pool and increasing network of industrial zones enhancing its appeal as a manufacturing partner. This trend is evident not only in consumer electronics but also in advanced computing, communications hardware and automotive electronics. For Indian cities and industrial corridors, this shift presents a significant opportunity to attract investment in electronics parks, logistics infrastructure and skilled‑workforce training programmes. Urban planners and economic development officials argue that capturing higher value‑added manufacturing will underpin job creation in middle‑skill and high‑skill segments, even as cities grapple with balancing expansion with sustainability and equitable economic opportunity.
The Pune‑Mumbai‑Bengaluru corridor, for example, is emerging as a focal area for manufacturing‑linked innovation and export‑oriented clusters, leveraging existing research institutions and transport connectivity. Meanwhile, regional governments are pitching metropolitan areas as “future cities” that can host global technology and manufacturing hubs.
Looking ahead, experts say India’s ability to compete with entrenched manufacturing ecosystems — particularly China’s — will depend not only on cost competitiveness but also on deepening local supply chains, advancing digital industrial tools and sustaining policy predictability. If these elements align, India could not only become a significant electronics manufacturing base but also reinforce its role in global production networks shaping the next decade of industrial growth.
