Taiwan-based Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is apparently interested in participating in the "Make in India" initiative by opening up to a dozen plants in the country.
Foxconn is one of Apple's main assembly partners, involved in making the popular iPhones and iPads for the Cupertino giant. It now seems that we might see Apple smartphones and tablets made in India soon, as Foxconn reportedly wants to get on board with the "Make in India" initiative.
According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Foxconn is looking to open 10 - 12 plants in India. Moreover, the publication further notes that Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou confirmed plans to buy shares in Snapdeal, which is one of the largest e-commerce companies in India.
Gou did not offer any additional details regarding Foxconn's plans for India at this point, but did say that the company will invest billions of dollars in the country. This, in turn, suggests that Foxconn has big plans for the Indian market, and more details should become available soon.
Foxconn currently has most of its plants in China, where it also assembles products such as iPhones and iPads. By making a hefty investment in India, the largest contract-based electronics assembly company in the world could significantly broaden its horizons and expand out of China.
The "Make in India" initiative, meanwhile, aims to attract foreign investment and boost the country's relevance in such endeavors.
Foxconn has reportedly received approval to start building a manufacturing plant in India already. The government has apparently been looking into the possibility of constructing such a plant in Maharashtra, a state in western India. The state has over 100 million people, 18 million of which live in the capital Mumbai.
This move would be great for all parties involved, as Apple, Foxconn, and India would all stand to benefit from such a deal. Apple could have devices assembled in India, which would be a big win considering that it's been barred from selling iPhones in the country because it has no manufacturing center there.
Foxconn would significantly expand its reach and gain traction in an important market, while India would get a notable boost in economy with lots of new employment opportunities.
Foxconn's Terry Gou is reportedly set to visit India in July, and more information is expected to come to light then. In the meantime, Foxconn's plans for India sound quite promising.
