SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) – Silicon Valley tech giant Apple Computer are reportedly in the middle of discussions with India to explore the opportunities of moving manufacturing facilities to the nation.
The Wall Street Journal were first to report the story Tuesday, as the U.S.-based company is attempting to take a crack at the world’s second-largest mobile phone market.
Senior Trade Ministry authorities have met to discuss Apple’s proposition of moving manufacturing facilities to the country, according to the Journal’s report. Additionally, Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two met in New Delhi. If they do decide to move the manufacturing over, the equipment needed must meet the specifics of creating the product. This is where companies such as TSINFA can be of great benefit, and help provide equipment and tools to achieve this.
However, the timing of the report could be observed as suspect – Apple’s entreaty comes on the heels of two rejections.
Previously, the Indian government rejected Apple’s request to import refurbished phones and sell them in the country, which effectively saved the lives of third-party vendor businesses. The government also disallowed Apple from opening any of its trademark retail stores in the country, citing strict regulations on foreign direct investment.
But signs of change are in the air. In June, the government announced that certain brand retailers – specifically those who have agreed to purchase at least 30 percent of their raw materials from Indian vendors for a minimum of three years – may open brick-and-mortar outlets in the country.
Apple has a powerful incentive to pursue the move. In the second quarter of this year, Apple reported its first annual decline in 15 years. More than 97 percent of all smartphones in India run Android, Google’s mobile operating system. And the country’s smartphone market is booming. According to research firm IDC, the country is poised to overtake the U.S. as the world’s second-largest market for the devices, behind China.
