New Delhi: Addressing reporters in Delhi, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed a promising development for India’s manufacturing sector. He disclosed that a total of 32 companies are poised to establish laptop manufacturing operations within the country. This pivotal move comes in response to the government’s call for applications under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT hardware. Out of these applications, 25 hail from domestic entities, reflecting a strong indigenous interest.
The recent pronouncement by the government to impose restrictions on laptop imports, effective from November, has likely bolstered the momentum for domestic manufacturing. International brands including HP, Dell, Lenovo, Thomson, Acer, and Asus are among the corporations that have committed to producing laptops under the aegis of this incentive scheme. Furthermore, notable entities like HP and Lenovo are also slated to establish server manufacturing units in the country.
Intriguingly, though technology behemoth Apple has refrained from availing benefits under this scheme, it has chosen to locally manufacture certain components integral to laptops. This dual-pronged approach by companies, both joining the manufacturing initiative and contributing through component production, is anticipated to substantially curtail the volume of laptop and PC imports.
Minister Vaishnaw expressed confidence in the scheme’s efficacy, assuaging concerns about potential import restrictions. He affirmed having engaging conversations with the applicants and emphasised their unwavering enthusiasm. Forecasts for the project are striking, with an estimated infusion of ₹3.35 lakh crore into the economy and the creation of approximately 75,000 direct employment opportunities. Officials have projected the commencement of laptop production by April 2024, marking a significant step towards bolstering India’s self-reliance in the technology hardware sector.
A notable aspect of this development is the anticipated reduction in reliance on imported semiconductors. Minister Vaishnav highlighted that several Chinese companies will integrate Indian-made semiconductors into their laptop manufacturing processes, further solidifying the nation’s standing as a burgeoning hub for advanced technology production.
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