Will Apple Stop iPhone Production In India? Here's What Govt Official Says After Trump's Remark

US President Donald Trump asked Apple CEO to stop manufacturing of iPhones in India and up the production in America.

Apple assured India that its investment plans remain intact, aiming to make India a major manufacturing base, despite Trump's concerns about investment allocation.

Source : PTI

India on Thursday downplayed US President Donald Trump's recent call to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking him to pull out production of iPhones from India. 

An Indian government official said that India has become a "significant mobile manufacturing hub" and continues to attract global players based on its growing competitiveness, reported India Today. 

The official also said that Apple would be more concerned about where they would find manufacturing competitiveness. 

When specifically asked about Trump's statement, the official declined to comment.

The official, however, highlighted that India has become a "very consistent player in the mobile market via Make in India." " India is a significant mobile manufacturing hub today. If companies recognise the value of manufacturing in India, they will continue to grow on that path," the official said. 

The official also added that companies like Apple make decisions based on global competitiveness and not on political rhetoric. 

"Companies go by their own competitiveness vis-a-vis other companies. Apple would be more concerned about where they would find manufacturing competitiveness," the official said. 

Backchannel Talks With Apple 

While Trump asked the Cupertino-based firm to stop production of iPhones in India, the company has assured that Apple's investment plans for India are intact and the company proposes to make the country a major manufacturing base for its products, reported PTI. 

On Thursday, during his visit to Qatar, Trump said he had a "little problem" with Tim Cook.

"I said to him, Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very well. You're coming in with USD 500 billion (investment). But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India if you want to take care of India," he said. 

Soon after his remark, Indian officials spoke to Apple executives who assured of production remaining intact.

"Apple has said that its investment plans in India are intact and it proposes to continue to have India as a major manufacturing base for its products," reported PTI quoting source.