India, U.S. to diversify global semi-conductor supply chains: Jake Sullivan

US NSA Jake Sullivan meets counterpart Ajit Doval, addresses meet on critical, emerging technologies in Delhi.

India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and the American NSA Jake Sullivan met in New Delhi on June 13 and discussed regional and global issues of mutual relevance, a press note issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed.

Later, Mr. Sullivan, who is on a two-day India visit, attended a round table on ‘Advancing India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET)‘ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where he said that India and the U.S. will “diversify global semi-conductor supply chains”. 

“The U.S. and India are poised to lead in clean energy transformation, shore up and diversify global semi-conductor supply chains and supply chains in other critical goods, and lead the revolution in AI (Artificial Intelligence), advanced computing, biotech, and quantum computing. We are trying to remove barriers to collaboration on both sides. The question that we are asking is what are those things that are standing in the way of our ability to maximise the full potential of our cooperation,” Mr. Sullivan said during the second Track 1.5 dialogue on iCET, where Mr. Doval and the U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti were present.

Explained | A push for the semiconductor industry

The iCET was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and American President Joe Biden on the side lines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 24, 2022. Mr. Sullivan’s visit comes ahead of Mr. Modi’s visit to Washington D.C. and will provide both sides opportunity to conduct a “survey of India-U.S. global strategic partnership”, the MEA said. 

A statement from the MEA said that, following the beginning of the iCET, Mr. Doval and Mr. Sullivan “have also driven a concerted effort between the two countries to engage on the identified areas of collaboration, including Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors, Telecommunications, Defence and Space”. 

Presenting his ideas at the event organised by the CII, Mr. Doval recollected his visit to Washington D.C. in January this year.