New Delhi: Indian electronics industry is ready to fulfill components wish list of Apple for making iPhone in the country if the smart devices major provides purchase commitment to local firms, says industry body IESA.
“If the government says fall in line, industry associations are prepared to enter into agreement with Apple and say tell us what your wish list is, we will fulfill it in next three to 12 months,” India Electronics & Semiconductor Association president M.N. Vidyashankar said.
Apple has submitted a proposal for setting up single brand retail stores in the country but has sought exemption from the local sourcing norms as the US-based giant makes state-of-the-art and cutting edge technology products for which local sourcing is not possible.
The finance ministry has rejected relaxing the 30 per cent domestic sourcing norms, as sought by iPhone and iPad maker as a pre-condition for bringing in FDI to set up single-brand retail stores in the country.
However, the commerce ministrt has taken a line that the 30 per cent local sourcing requirement can be waived off for high-end technology products and will again try for exempting Apple from this norm.
“If you make an exception to Apple, everybody will come and ask for similar differentiation. Such kind of request will only multiply. Any kind of dilution will adversely affect us,” Mr Vidyashankar said.
He said that industry associations have met all concerned ministries and told them that there sho-uld be no dilution on this. He, however, said that Apple entry in India is very important for the industry and the country.
“Their coming is very important for us. If we can say we are supplying to Apple, all the leading players will fall in line. With China saying that they are supplying to Apple, the credibility touches sky high. We need to be almost equal to that kind of dispensation but there should be no dilution,” he said, adding that industry can meet Apple’s needs, if business is assured from the iPhone maker.
