A semiconductor initiative from the Zoho group may soon emerge in Odisha, involving an investment of ₹3,034 crore. The venture, Silectric Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, was established by Zoho's directors in March 2024 and plans to set up a silicon carbide manufacturing unit in Khurdha district.

The Odisha government recently discussed this proposal, as shared on X by Sampad Chandra Swain, the Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development, and Technical Education. Swain noted that the Odisha High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) has approved 12 significant industrial projects, with half of the ₹39,000 crore investment already sanctioned.

Among the approved projects are three from the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector, including Silectric's plan for silicon carbide device production.

The management team of Silectric includes directors Navneethan Jai Anand, Radha Vembu, Dandapani Rajendran, and Krishnan Ramabadran, who are also part of Zoho's leadership.

While Zoho has not yet commented on the project, in May, co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu hinted at the group's interest in semiconductor manufacturing. He stated, “While we’re not ready to announce anything yet, this technology is crucial for our nation, and it’s essential for companies to invest. The government is very supportive, and now is the time.”