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Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India

Why is everyone suddenly talking about India? Here are some facts that might interest you:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected India’s GDP growth over the next five years at 12.9%, second only to China’s 22.6%, and ahead of the U.S., which is in third place¹.
• The IMF calls India the fastest-growing major economy in the next two years.
• By 2028, India is expected to reach 18% and maintain growth in the 20% range thereafter¹.
• Closer to home, there are an estimated 700 EMS suppliers in India, including both Indian and multinational companies².
• In 2021, the Indian EMS industry was valued at $23.5 billion. While this is 2.8% of the global EMS market, its growth potential is expected to reach $152 billion by the end of this year².

Despite this, trade agreement negotiations between India and the U.S. have stalled³, and the Trump Administration announced a 50% tariff on India products⁴, the highest against any country. Tariffs might not slow the Indian economic region all that much, but what might this mean to India’s electronics exports?

In the September 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine, we turn our attention to the Indian EMS market. We start with an interview with David Bergman, whose foresight in the early 2000s opened doors for the Global Electronics Association to begin helping Indian EMS companies with standards and certifications that would give EMS companies a footing to enter a global EMS market.

That office is growing strongly in India and the regions surrounding it. For something extra, I encourage you to read “A Vision for India and Beyond” in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine, which highlights the efforts of Gaurab Majumdar, vice president of the Association’s India region.

You’ll also want to read excerpts I’ve included in this issue from the Association’s June 2025 report, “Interconnected: Global Electronics Trade in an Age of Disruption,” which details exactly how and why the electronics manufacturing industry is the most interconnected supply chain on the planet. India is more an international exporter of electronics finished goods than a domestic consumer, so a 50% tariff on Indian electronics exports could be an economic damper. Right now, all electronics are exempt from the tariff.

We visit Cyient DLM, an India-based EMS provider, and explore how the domestic Indian defense sector is growing. You get a sneak peek at the upcoming IEMI conference and look at India’s increasing activity in standards development.

In other features, we’re proud to launch a series on EV technologies, authored by Stanton Rak, co-chair of the Technical Program Committee for the Global Electronics Association, who’s leading the development of the special sessions at APEX EXPO for EV, power electronics, and high-voltage. He’s also a consultant on automotive issues to the Association’s Technology Solutions team.

Chintan Sanghani shares his recent experience successfully implementing LEAN in a low-volume/high-mix EMS environment, and I’m reprinting an excellent article by Sam McMaster of Pillarhouse International, showcasing the relationship between soldering and sustainability.

Our cadre of columnists this month includes Josh Casper, who is discussing the current state of the market for odd-form assembly. CEE’s Tom Yang continues his exposé on China’s ongoing (and growing?) relevance in the industry, and Nash Bell knocks down the bone pile with a piece on BGA repair.

In summary, not just India deserves this kind of coverage. The greater Americas (outside the U.S. and Canada) are on the grow. Europe is undergoing a major transition in the structure of its PCB industry, and Southeast Asia’s growth is very healthy. In future issues, we will look at each region. The electronics manufacturing industry is already deeply interconnected; these shifts offer opportunities to develop more robust supply chains with built-in redundancy and for new regions to build skills and infrastructure.

As always, we welcome your feedback and story suggestions.