Ashwini Vaishnaw: 99.2% of mobile phones in India are manufactured locally

On November 27, 2023, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology in India, announced that over 99 percent of mobile phones used in the country are manufactured locally. Speaking at Tata's iPhone plant in Tamil Nadu's Hosur, he emphasized the significant progress in the electronics manufacturing sector, with the mobile manufacturing industry surpassing $44 billion in value.

Vaishnaw debunked the misconception that some Opposition leaders still hold, stating, "There are some big leaders in the Opposition who still believe that mobile phones are imported. They forget that today 99.2 percent of mobile phones used in India are made in India." He further highlighted the industry's growth, reaching over $100 billion, and the shift towards higher value-added manufacturing, with multiple components being produced within the country.

The Minister discussed India's ambitious goal of producing $300 billion in electronics products by 2025-26, supported by production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes to attract device makers. He also noted the success of the 'Make in India' initiative, with mobile phone shipments exceeding 2 billion units in 2022, making India the world's second-largest producer of mobile phones.

Companies like Apple and Google have played a significant role in boosting local production. Apple plans to increase its production in India to over $40 billion in the next 4-5 years, while Google announced plans to manufacture its Pixel smartphones in India, contributing to the country's aspirations of becoming a global manufacturing hub.

Vaishnaw expressed optimism about India's semiconductor program and the construction of a plant for chip manufacturing. He emphasized the employment opportunities generated by the mobile phone industry and the overall progress in the electronics sector.

The growth of the electronics manufacturing industry in India is attributed to factors such as domestic demand, increasing digital literacy, and proactive government support. The 'Make in India' initiative has witnessed a significant rise in local value addition, with more than 98 percent of shipments in the overall market being 'Make in India' in 2022, compared to 19 percent in 2014.

In conclusion, India has made substantial strides in the production of mobile phones and electronics, achieving both economic growth and global recognition as a manufacturing powerhouse.