Launching the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS), Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Apple could move beyond manufacturing only iPhones in India, signalling the possibility of the company expanding its manufacturing footprint to products such as MacBooks and iPads.
The government is targeting cumulative mobile-phone production of around Rs 39 lakh crore during the five-year scheme period
The focus is on ensuring that domestic manufacturers develop their own intellectual property, product design and technology capabilities. He said the government has identified three potential Indian smartphone players that could emerge over the next 10-14 months, and that these companies had been asked to develop the best designs for the segments in which they intend to compete.
“At this point of time, three potential players could emerge,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the government sees potential for Indian brands to emerge in the coming months. The government, Vaishnaw said, is looking beyond simply getting Indian companies to manufacture phones. Vaishnaw said the government would examine the IP and quality of designs being developed by potential Indian players before extending support. “Under the scheme, the government has come up with a plan to build a domestic mobile phone brand and it is also providing a 3 per cent incentive on research and development programs of companies,” Krishnan said earlier.
