Apple's ecosystem has created more than 1 lakh new direct jobs in manufacturing over the last 24 months in India, Minister of State, Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Tuesday.
"PM @narendramodi ji's policies propelling India as trusted partner in Global Electronics. From 0 exports in 2014 to 1 Lac cr mobile phone exports in 2023/24 ; from importing 90% of mobiles consumed to becoming an exporter,#NewIndia has transformed🙏🏻," Chandrasekhar tweeted.
The MoS Electronics and IT added that 70 per cent of these people 19-24-year-old women who are starting their careers, acquiring skills and improving the ease of living for their families.
Chandrashekhar's announcement coincides with the opening of Apple's first flagship retail store in Mumbai's bustling Bandra Kurla Complex, from where the store gets its name, Apple BKC.
Apple is also said to be continuously working towards expanding its operations in the country and the central government along with MeITY is in regular touch with the tech giant to support its business, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Textiles and Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal had said last week.
Meanwhile, India's iPhone exports jumped almost four times to cross $5 billion or more than Rs 40,000 crore in FY 2023, in the wake of increased local production of Apple iPhone models.
Experts suggest that Apple iPhone became the first brand to cross the $5 billion export mark from India, thus, highlighting the speed at which the Cupertino, California-based tech giant is ramping up its production in the country. Apple also locally assembles the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in India.
Apple and local manufacturing in India
Apple has been ramping up the production of iPhones in India especially after its biggest contract manufacturer and partner Foxconn witnessed unrest in China at the Zhengzhou manufacturing plant. Foxconn in China witnessed major supply-chain disruptions late last year due to the country's zero-Covid policy.