OCTOBER, 20249Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced plans to increase the number of airports in India to 350 by the year 2047 as part of India's goal to become a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed nation). Speaking at an event marking World Tourism Day at Vigyan Bhawan, he highlighted the ministry's efforts to boost tourism by improving domestic air connectivity and focusing on hinterland locations near unexplored sites.Naidu stressed the importance of enhancing airport facilities to welcome foreign tourists, describing airports as "gateways to a country." He emphasized the government's goal of increasing the number of airports from the current 157 to 350 within the next 20-25 years.The event also saw Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announce that under the 'Chalo India' campaign, one lakh foreign tourists would soon be exempted from paying visa fees. Naidu noted that India had seen a significant rise in air traffic, with 4.6 crore travelers landing in 2014, increasing to almost 7 crore today, thanks in part to the growth in airports.Naidu praised the UDAAN scheme, which has made air travel more accessible to the common man, and expressed the ministry's intent to connect previously "unserved" and "underserved" airports located near beautiful landscapes. He also mentioned plans to improve seaplane and helicopter connectivity, aligning closely with the tourism sector's goals. Tokyo Electron Ltd., Japan's leading chip equipment manufacturer, is looking to establish a team of chip engineers in India to align with the Modi government's initiative to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the country. The company aims to hire and train local engineers around 2026, starting with providing technical support to Tata Electronics Pvt, according to CEO Toshiki Kawai. Robotics will increasingly play a role, and support will be offered from Japan both in-person and remotely, although specific hiring numbers were not disclosed.India is actively pursuing international electronics companies and chipmakers to set up operations, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to reduce the technology gap between India and more advanced nations. Apple is ramping up its iPhone production in India, while Tata Group and others are making significant investments in semiconductor fabs. The Indian government is providing incentives to support these ventures, which will require equipment and expertise from global firms like Tokyo Electron.Tokyo Electron plans to hire 10,000 new employees globally over the next five years as demand for domestic chip production rises across several countries. The company, a supplier to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Intel, forecasts record revenue and profits for the fiscal year ending in March. It also expects overall chip demand to double by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and efforts towards energy efficiency and carbon neutrality. TOP STORIESCIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY SEEKING TO IMPROVE AIRPORT ACCESSIBILITYJAPAN TO RIDE ON GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO MANUFACTURE CHIPS IN INDIA
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