Apple Ready With Blueprint for Manufacturing iPhones in India

Apple Inc on Wednesday indicated to the government that it is ready with a blueprint to begin manufacturing iPhones in India, but wants fiscal concessions, including Customs duty waiver on import of components.

Apple executives made a detailed presentation on its road map for setting up a manufacturing unit in India to an inter-ministerial group headed by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek, sources privy to the development said.

The presentation was made by senior executives of the company, including Global Vice-President (iPhone operations) Priya Balasubramanian. It cited the country’s business friendly ecosystem for keenness to start local manufacturing.

With sales tapering in the US and China, Apple is eyeing India – the fastest growing smartphone market in the world – and looking to set up a local manufacturing unit to cut costs.

It, however, does not manufacture devices on its own and rather does it through contract manufacturers. Read more…