ICEA Seeks Industrial Electronics Push to Hit $500B Manufacturing

• ICEA calls for prioritizing industrial electronics in India's \$500B manufacturing goal
• A strategic roadmap is being developed with industry and government collaboration
• Amber Enterprises' ₹404 Cr acquisition of Unitronics boosts India’s automation tech

India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) have stressed the urgent need for the focus on industrial and infrastructure electronics as a key enabler in meeting India's $500 billion target for electronics manufacturing by FY 2030-31.

Future of industry does not just lie in manufacturing consumer goods, but in making technologies that will produce automation of factories, cities and transport systems. Industrial electronics should be at the heart of India's strategy for growth for electronics manufacturing.

"The industrial electronics segment must be recognized as a national strategic priority. It is the brain and nervous system of every advanced manufacturing setup. Without leadership in industrial automation, India cannot claim true manufacturing leadership", said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA.

He added, "Industrial electronics has massive potential for high-skilled employment, particularly in areas such as embedded systems, automation software, robotics, and Al-integrated systems. And we must invest in talent pipelines, R&D, and incentives to grow this sector. India should aim to become not just a user of industrial electronics, but a global design and manufacturing hub for it".

"The industrial electronics forms the technological backbone of modern manufacturing infrastructure, powering smart factories, robotics, intelligent grids, automated systems, and future-ready transport and logistics networks. Industrial electronics is not a vertical in itself, rather it is a horizontal which drives all verticals/sectors of manufacturing", stated Manish Walia, VP, Delta Electronics.

Also Read: U.S. Tariffs: Karnataka Seeks Centre's Swift Response

In furtherance, ICEA is progressing on creating a specific policy and strategic roadmap with its Steering Committee on Industrial Electronics and Infrastructure in partnership with the government and industry leaders. The Steering Committee has senior executives from Delta Electronics, Infineon Technologies, Fanuc, Rockwell Automation India and others. It will publish a detailed market study of the challenges that must be overcome in areas such as access to technology, regulatory gaps and ecosystem in industrial electronics.

In a momentous development, Amber Enterprises India Ltd. recently bought a controlling stake in Unitronics based in Israel, a worldwide leader in industrial automation. The ₹404 crore investment allows access to embattled technologies in PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and Industrial IoT, which are critical for advanced Industry 4.0.

"This transaction will significantly strengthen India's Industrial automation by providing a strong foothold in the rapidly growing sector of Industry 4.0 solutions and real-time data-driven technologies. This will accelerate our nation's transition towards smart factories and digitally-driven production systems, ultimately supporting the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in high-tech manufacturing", said Jasbir Singh, Executive Chairman and CEO of Amber Group.

The ICEA continues to advocate for industry-led innovation & international competitiveness in order to increase India’s share within the global electronics value chain.