If you’ve been following our blog (or any other Apple blog, for that matter) over the past few months, you will have noticed that Apple has been making a great deal of effort to establish itself in the Indian market.
It all started with the Modi-Cook meeting in the US last year. After that, we heard news of Apple making more India-specific plans, like opening a brand new India Headquarter or bringing the Apple Store to the subcontinent. Even Tim Cook could not stop talking about India!
Now it looks like Apple has taken another step in that direction. Pegatron – a manufacturer of Apple products – is looking to set up a manufacturing unit in India.
“Pegatron Technology CEO Jason Cheng, during an investors conference on March 17, revealed that the company has plans for India and is planning to establish factories in the country,” said a media report by DigiTimes.
This development comes close on the heels of news that Foxconn (one of the main manufacturing partners of Apple) has already started setting up a manufacturing unit in Maharashtra.
Isn’t India suddenly the center of attraction! And why not? A better government policy that favors manufacturers coupled with labour that is cheaper even than China’s, India is a soon becoming a magnet for foreign direct investment.
Apple is more intent on pursuing this ‘Make in India’ agenda because devices manufactured here could mean a huge reduction in costs. This means we can get our desirable phones without burning a hole in our pockets. And that’s perfect not just for us, but also Apple because price had been their biggest barrier to entering our market.
With Apple sales figures shattering all records last quarter, the market for consumption of Apple devices has already started to boom. The negotiations currently on with manufacturers mean that we might well be seeing a boom in production as well.
“Designed in California. Made in India.” Could this be printed on the back of your next iPhone? You betcha!!
