According to Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the government has asked Chinese mobile companies to increase their exports from India, and there is no recommendation to prohibit the sale of handsets priced under $12,000 made by such companies.
The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology also stated that Indian companies have a key role in the country’s electronic ecosystem. However, this does not necessarily imply that foreign brands are excluded.
The minister stated that the government is aiming for USD 300 billion in electronics production and USD 120 billion in exports by 2025-26, while generating a report issued by ICRIER in association with the industry body ICEA on increasing domestic value addition. The current output is valued at approximately USD 76 billion.
While answering on the government’s plan on the same, the minister mentioned, “The only issue we have raised and done very transparently with some of the Chinese brands is that we expect them to do more exports.” Adding further, he said, “Their supply chain, especially the components supply chain, needs to be more transparent and much more open.” On the other hand, the narrative about crowding them out of a specific market segment (under Rs 12,000) “we don’t have any proposal and I’m not sure where it came from.”
Lastly, he mentioned that no matter how the government performs and functions, if there is too much Indian crowding because of too many unfair trade practices,they do make sure to intervene and get it sorted. The report submitted by him, however, suggests several measures to boost exports. It includes the promotion of bilateral and regional free-trading agreements; the convenience of operating a business; and the reduction of regulatory and transportation costs.
