NEW DELHI: India’s government is considering fresh subsidies for electronic component-makers and cutting tariffs on imports to help boost local manufacturing, especially of smartphones made by companies like Apple Inc.
The Electronics and IT Ministry proposed giving manufacturers of components like batteries and camera parts at least 230 billion rupees (US$2.7bil) in support, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private.
The ministry also recommended reducing tariffs on some electronic components, an industry demand that will help bring down production costs, one of the people said.
A final decision on the proposals will be made by the cabinet, and if approved, details may be announced in the government’s upcoming budget in February, the people said.
India’s Electronics and IT Ministry and Finance Ministry didn’t immediately respond to requests for further information.
The Economic Times of India earlier reported on the subsidy plan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has spent billions of US dollars in incentives to lure companies like Apple and Samsung Electronics Co to set up manufacturing plants in the South Asian country.
Apple’s iPhone exports from India have grown at a rapid clip as a result.
Authorities now want to build on that momentum by creating a broader supply chain for smartphone makers, who import the bulk of their electronics parts from countries including China.
Some of the components being targeted by the proposed subsidy include microprocessors, memory, storage, multi-layered printed circuit boards, camera components such as lens, and lithium-ion cells, one of the people said. — Bloomberg
