Skull and Bones
ELITE MEMBER
- Jan 29, 2011
- 18,605
- -4
- Country
- Location
Apple has been struggling to gain market share in India to due overpriced iPhones and other Apple products. Part of the problem is because Apple has not been able to set up a manufacturing unit in India. The Cupertino giant has been in talks with the Indian government for the past couple of years to reach an agreement, but things have not been easy. But efforts are ongoing and Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday he will be meeting top Apple executives in Davos next month.
This suggest that the government is still in talks with Apple to set up a manufacturing unit despite rejecting Apple's demands for concessions in the past. "We are still talking to Apple. Negotiations are ongoing. If they agree, we will like them to set up offices in India as well. I am meeting Apple's top leadership in Davos in early January," the minister told PTI in an interview.
Apple's demands for setting up a manufacturing unit in India include duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years. The company is also seeking a relaxation on the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components as well as a reduction in custom duties on completely-knocked-down and semi-knocked- down units of devices that are to be assembled in the country.
Most of these demands were rejected by the government last year in March, but later that year Suresh Prabhu said the Centre will support Apple's ambition to set up manufacturing unit in the country and was awaiting for a formal proposal. This week Prabhu reiterated that circumstances have changed now and there may be possibilities to meet a middleground. "When their offer came two-three years back and today, the situation has changed for them as well as for us. So, it is a good time to meet and discuss and finalise," he said.
On being asked about Apple's demands on tax and other concessions, the minister said, "We can look into that".
https://www.indiatoday.in/technolog...one-manufacturing-in-india-1415153-2018-12-22
This suggest that the government is still in talks with Apple to set up a manufacturing unit despite rejecting Apple's demands for concessions in the past. "We are still talking to Apple. Negotiations are ongoing. If they agree, we will like them to set up offices in India as well. I am meeting Apple's top leadership in Davos in early January," the minister told PTI in an interview.
Apple's demands for setting up a manufacturing unit in India include duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years. The company is also seeking a relaxation on the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components as well as a reduction in custom duties on completely-knocked-down and semi-knocked- down units of devices that are to be assembled in the country.
Most of these demands were rejected by the government last year in March, but later that year Suresh Prabhu said the Centre will support Apple's ambition to set up manufacturing unit in the country and was awaiting for a formal proposal. This week Prabhu reiterated that circumstances have changed now and there may be possibilities to meet a middleground. "When their offer came two-three years back and today, the situation has changed for them as well as for us. So, it is a good time to meet and discuss and finalise," he said.
On being asked about Apple's demands on tax and other concessions, the minister said, "We can look into that".
https://www.indiatoday.in/technolog...one-manufacturing-in-india-1415153-2018-12-22
