Apple is also eyeing India as the sales in its largest market China started declining
The government is considering iPhone maker Apple's proposal for setting up a manufacturing unit in India.
"We would like Apple to come in India (for setting up manufacturing unit) and we are examining Apple's proposal," Minister of State for Electronics and IT Alphons Kannanthanam said on the sidelines of an event organised by industry body CII.
Cupertino-based firm Apple has sought certain concessions, including duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years, for setting up a manufacturing unit in the country.
It had also asked for a relaxation in the mandated 30% local sourcing of components.
India is the fastest growing mobile market in the world which is being eyed by many global firms, including China's Huawei and Xiaomi. Apple is also eyeing India as the sales in its largest market China started declining.
Apple sells its products through company-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others but has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
Currently, about 90 phone companies are manufacturing handsets in the country under the government's Make in India programme.
Apple had been in talks with the Indian government since May 2016, when its chief executive Tim Cook and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and agreed to set up an Apple production and export base in India that goes beyond just assembling iPhones.
Apple has already started assembling iPhones in Bengaluru. The company wants to scale up manufacturing in India by establishing a local supplier base in the long run. Currently, it manufactures and exports chargers through a contract manufacturing facility in Chennai.
The government offers a 20% capital subsidy for electronics manufacturing for 10 years under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme. But Apple has asked for more concessions for setting up of a manufacturing plant.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Tim Cook")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}