ELCINA Golden Jubilee: India’s tryst with the Electronics Industry

A glittering commemoration event was hosted today at New Delhi to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of ELCINA – Electronic Industries Association of India, which was founded in Mumbai in September 1967.

Background: Birth of ELCINA – The Crucial Role of Component Giants

Seven prominent Electronic Component players got together in Mumbai in 1967 to discuss the problems and prospects of the industry, which was tiny and in its infancy. They were trying to find out how components manufacturing could be nurtured and put on a growth path. Their unanimous view was that there was need for a body to steer local manufacturing. Thus, with modest beginnings, asingle-man ELCINA office was set up in the premises of Member Companies in Mumbai for the first four years. ELCINA moved to Delhi in 1971, as it was felt that operationally it would be better to be close to the central policy makers of the Government of India.

Total components manufactured in the country in 1970-71 were valuedat Rs. 37 crore, while electronics industry production in totality was Rs. 138 crore. Table 1(below)reveals how the IndiaElectronics industry has grown over the last three decades, in no small measure due to the drive and concerted efforts of ELCINA members:

Table 1. Growth of Electronics Production in India, 1985-2017 Rs. Crore)

“ELCINA has come a long way since its start-up years of slow growth. We look back with pride on how the Association has grown, slowly but steadily over the last 50 years.Today we have our own facilities constructed in 1994-95 with modern amenities – a dream come true –realised with the whole-hearted support of Members. From a one-man show, the Association today, has a strong Secretariat staffed with a team possessing diverse skill-sets, to address a wide range of industry issues. We have a galaxy of Industry Leaders on the Executive Committee led by the President and access to Past Presidents to seek their guidance on all important matters,”said Mr. Vikram Desai, President, ELCINA.

“Electronics helps provide a variety of reliable automation, lighting and industrial solutions for homes, schools, workplaces, utilities and public spaces – thereby directly increasing productivity, improving safety and efficiency, empowering underprivileged households, allowing space for free and independent individual creative expression and in improving the overall quality of life. It would not be an exaggeration to state that Electronics transforms lives,” addedMr. Rajoo Goel, Secretary General, ELCINA.

Felicitation of Electronic Leaders

The evening witnessed felicitation of Electronic industry leaders who had left no stone unturned to ensure that the ESDM industry took root and flourished in the country. Amongst those whose stellar contributions were recognised was – Mr. P. Sudhakar, OSD, DAE and ex CMD, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Mr. SatishKaura, Founder, Samtel Groupand Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder, HCL.

Unveiling of ELCINA Industry Book and ELCINA Investor’s Manual

To mark ELCINA’s 50^th anniversary, Shri Kiren Rijiju unveiled the ELCINA Industry Book, an in-depth manual to help readers appreciate the role played by pioneers in driving the growth of the India Electronics industry over more than fifty years. Shri Rijiju also unveiled the ELCINA Investor’s Manual, a ‘How To’ DIY Guide for investors who wish to understand and navigate emerging opportunities in the India ESDM sector.

Signing of MoU between India and Taiwan ESDM Partners

The evening’s proceedings were further enriched by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Info Power Technologies Ltd. of India and Mitac Holdings Corp. of Taiwan. The MoU envisages an investment in setting up of a greenfield hi-tech plant to manufacture the fabrication of PCB, PCBA and electronic products.

Special Keynote on ‘Electric Vehicles’

Mr. Francis Tsai, Chairman, Getac Group, Taiwan and Chairman of TEEMA’s (Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association)India Committeedelivered a keynotepresentation on the topic ‘Electric Vehicles’, an area of growing interest amongst global and Indian ESDM players.

High-Powered Panel Discussions

The evening’s proceedings were capped by two high-powered panel discussions. The first panel, deliberating on the theme ‘Revolutionary Technologies Transforming Human Lives’ comprised Ms. Debjani Ghosh, Past President, MAIT (Digital Literacy and Technological Innovation), Shri Deepak Gupta, IAS (Retd.), Ex-Secretary, MNRE, Govt. of India and Hony. Director General, NSEFI (Renewable Energy), Mr. PrashantRao, ED (S&T), DMRC (Public Transport), Mr. GuruprasadMudlapur, MD, Bosch Automotive Electronics India (Automotive Electronics) and Mr. Sudarshan Pitty, Head of Production in India for Nokia Solutions and Networks (IoT).The panel was moderated by Mr. Prasanto Kumar Roy, Vice President, NASSCOM Internet, Mobile and E-Commerce Councils.

The second panel covered the theme ‘Road Ahead for Electronics Manufacturing’ and the panel members comprised Mr. Vinod Sharma, MD, Deki Electronics Ltd. (Electronic Components), Mr. Pankaj Gulati, VP and COO, CDIL (Semiconductors), Mr. Amrit Manwani, CMD, Sahasra Group (PCB and EMS), Mr. Sanjiv Narayan, CMD, SGS Tekniks Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. (EMS) and Dr. Sreeram Srinivasan, CEO, Syrma Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (EMS). The panel was chaired by Mr. Ajai Chowdhary, Co-Founder HCL.

The evening’s proceedings ended with a Cultural Performance and Networking Dinner.