Corning Bets Big on India's Electronics and Life Sciences Boom

Corning is heavily investing in India's mobile consumer electronics and life sciences sectors, with major projects including a joint venture with Optiemus Infracom and a borosilicate glass unit. The company aims to integrate into India's growing manufacturing ecosystem, creating numerous job opportunities in the process.

High-tech glass company Corning is optimistic about growth prospects in India's mobile consumer electronics and life sciences sectors, a senior official announced on Thursday.

Currently, the company's automotive and optical fibre divisions are the primary revenue generators in the country.

Founded by providing the glass cover for Edison's bulb, Corning has diversified into numerous fields, including electronic display protection, space telescopes, and lab packaging. The company aims to tap into India's burgeoning electronics manufacturing ecosystem, according to Gokhan Doran, Corning International vice-president and general manager.

Corning has committed over Rs 1,000 crore to establish a joint venture with Optiemus Infracom in Tamil Nadu, focusing on producing finished cover-glass parts for mobile electronics. Additionally, a Rs 500 crore investment will set up a borosilicate glass unit for life sciences in Hyderabad.

Sudhir N Pillai, Corning's managing director and president for India, Middle East, and Africa, revealed that the Hyderabad plant will be operational by mid-2025, and the BIG Technologies plant by late 2025, creating around 1,500 jobs in total. The Global Capability Centre in Pune is also expected to expand significantly.

(With inputs from agencies.)