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Apple Will Start Producing iPhones In India From April 2017, Says Karnataka Government

The production process will begin at a plant near Bengaluru.
Regis Duvignau / Reuters

The Karnataka government has welcomed Apple for choosing Bengaluru as the local facility for manufacturing iPhone.

Speaking to HuffPost India on the phone, Priyank Kharge, IT minister of the state, confirmed that the Cupertino giant will be producing iPhones from a facility near Bengaluru.

"All the formalities are almost through and we welcome the decision of Apple to choose the state for local manufacturing. This will help local MSMEs and electronics business," he said. "Tentatively, they should start production by April 2017."

Earlier, Karnataka government also issued an official reaction today regarding Apple's move.

"Apple's decision on initial manufacturing in Bengaluru has further enhanced the reputation of Bengaluru as the most preferred destination for foreign investment and further validation of the State Government Policies aimed at fostering manufacturing, innovation and investments in Karnataka," the state IT department said.

Apple has been in talks with the Centre about starting local stores and manufacturing in India. CEO Tim Cook visited the country last year and had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding these matters.

The company asked for tax and labelling benefits from the government earlier for starting manufacturing. Apple has chosen Wistron as the manufacturer of the phone instead of its long-term partner Foxconn.

Recently, in the company's earnings call, Cook hailed the Indian government's decision to demonetise high-value currency notes, saying that it will be beneficial for the economy in the longer term.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.