Apple, Indian govt officials meet over factory plans to take place next week

Apple’s commitment towards the Indian market was reaffirmed when rumours of the Cupertino-based tech giant manufacturing in Bengaluru surfaced online. Later, a report published by PTI indicated that a meeting between Apple’s team members and senior officials from ministries, including IT and Finance is scheduled to take place in India on 25 January. The subject of this meeting would primarily revolve around the formers’ demands for setting up a manufacturing unit in the country.

Apart from senior officials from ministries, officials from Departments of Commerce, Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Revenue, Environment and Forest, Electronics and Information Technology (DeITY) will also be taking part. Sources mentioned by the same report suggest that Apple has even requested for several tax and other incentives, including long-term duty exemptions, to enter the manufacturing sector in India. Many believe that this could greatly reduce the total cost of Apple devices manufactured in India.

Other smartphone-makers who are already manufacturing devices in India include Chinese firm Huawei and Xiaomi but neither of them approached the government for any additional incentives. Apple products are manufactured in six countries including Korea, Japan and US.