JOIN USFoxconn Technology Group, Taiwan-headquartered world’s largest contract manufacturer of mobile phones, including that of Apple products, has evinced interest to set up a manufacturing and assembly plant in Bengaluru, according to two sources close to the development.
According to official sources in the Taiwan consulate, the company’s decision comes as a natural progression following the commencement of iconic Apple iPhones in Bengaluru by Wistron, another Taiwan-based company recently.
“Foxconn has already announced to set up 12 factories in India and create about 1 million jobs. Bengaluru is an ideal place where electronic manufacturing ecosystem is already in place with the presence of major public and private companies,” a Taiwan consulate official told DH. This will be Foxconn’s third such facility in India after Navi Mumbai and Sri City.
When contacted, the sources privy to the development said, Foxconn has expressed its willingness to work with the Karnataka government. “The company finds the government in Karnataka as very proactive led by an young and dynamic IT minister Priyank Kharge who is very much interested in expanding the state’s manufacturing capability in electronic sector,” the sources said.
The Foxconn’s decision comes at a time when Apple iPhone’s leading original equipment manufacturer Wistron started its manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. DH reported last week that Wistron commenced trial assembly of the iPhone SE smartphone at its Peenya plant. The complete Made in Bengaluru product will hit shelves in June first week.
Commenting on the decision, Karnataka IT and BT minister Priyank Kharge said, “Karnataka has always framed policies which will help companies to set up units here. We have got solid support with the arrival of Apple and its OEM Wistron. Foxconn’s decision to invest in Bengaluru is a natural corollary to that.”