India can import capital, but not sovereignty; controlling silicon critical for future: ESSCI CEO

New Delhi: Asserting that true national sovereignty in the digital era belongs to those who control silicon, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) CEO Madhvendra Singh on Wednesday said India can import machinery and capital, but it “cannot import sovereignty”.

Speaking at the PHDCCI’s Semiconductor India 2026 national conference here, Singh emphasised that domestic semiconductor manufacturing is no longer a luxury, but a critical strategic choice for the country.

“A nation that cannot manufacture its own chips is ultimately building its future on rent and security. We can import machinery and we can import capital, but we cannot import sovereignty,” Singh said.