India Sets New Record with $10 Billion iPhone Exports, Cementing Its Role in Global Tech Manufacturing
Apple Inc. has reached a major milestone with iPhone exports from India hitting $10 billion, a 75% surge from the previous year. This growth was propelled by robust demand for the latest iPhone models and the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint, now spanning five facilities across the country — including Tata Electronics in Hosur and Foxconn in Bengaluru. In September alone, Apple shipped iPhones worth $1.25 billion, marking a 155% year-on-year increase. India now produces all iPhone variants, including the Pro and Pro Max models, which are available for global launch, signaling the country’s ascent in Apple’s worldwide supply chain.
Backed by India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the surge in exports has also boosted the nation’s total smartphone shipments beyond ₹1 lakh crore, reinforcing its status as a major electronics exporter. For non-Indian companies, this development highlights India’s growing appeal as a reliable alternative to China for large-scale, high-tech manufacturing — offering both strategic diversification and access to a rapidly expanding domestic market.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/india-sets-new-record-for-iphone-exports-and-its-in-billions-and-with-iphone-17-it-may-add-another-billion/articleshow/124507581.cms
Editor’s Note: India has set a new benchmark with $10 billion in iPhone exports—a 75% year-on-year surge—driven by strong global demand and Apple’s expanded manufacturing across five Indian facilities, including Tata Electronics in Hosur and Foxconn in Bengaluru. Enabled by the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, this growth positions India as a rising electronics export hub and a strategic alternative to China for high-tech manufacturing.
MediaTek Signals Readiness to Manufacture Chips in India, Strengthening Global Semiconductor Ecosystem
Taiwanese semiconductor giant MediaTek has expressed readiness to begin chip manufacturing in India once local fabrication facilities become operational, marking a key development in India’s semiconductor ambitions. Anku Jain, Managing Director of MediaTek India, noted that producing chips domestically aligns with strong business logic—leveraging India’s growing consumption base, reducing supply chain complexities, and cutting operational costs. The company, which supplies chipsets to global smartphone leaders such as Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, and Vivo, currently operates on a fabless model, focusing on design and software while relying on foundries like TSMC, Intel Foundry Services, and GlobalFoundries for production.
MediaTek’s interest coincides with India’s $10-billion government incentive program to develop a full-scale semiconductor ecosystem. With India’s semiconductor market projected to grow from $38 billion in 2023 to over $100 billion by 2030, the move signals rising investor confidence in the country’s manufacturing capabilities. For non-Indian companies, MediaTek’s stance highlights India’s emergence as a strategic alternative for chip production amid global supply chain realignments—offering opportunities for partnership, investment, and diversification away from over-reliance on East Asian manufacturing hubs.
https://www.dtnext.in/technology/taiwanese-major-mediatek-willing-to-produce-chips-in-india-report-849271
Editor’s Note: MediaTek has signaled its readiness to manufacture chips in India once local fabs are operational, aligning with India’s $10-billion push to build a full-scale semiconductor ecosystem and tap into its growing market and cost advantages. This move reflects rising investor confidence and positions India as a strategic alternative to East Asian manufacturing hubs amid global supply chain shifts.
India–Taiwan Ties Reach New Heights on Taiwan’s 114th National Day, Marking 30 Years of Bilateral Partnership
On the occasion of the 114th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Stephen Hsu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Chennai, highlighted the deepening partnership between India and Taiwan across trade, investment, technology, education, and culture. He noted that bilateral trade reached $10.6 billion in 2024, doubling since 2016, and that over 300 Taiwanese firms now operate in India — a threefold rise in eight years. As the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic engagement, trade volumes have already grown 15% year-on-year as of August 2025, with Taiwan continuing to play a critical global role by producing 70% of the world’s chips and 95% of advanced semiconductors.
Speaking at the event, Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan underscored the state’s position as India’s leading hub for Taiwanese investment, hosting key sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. He revealed that Tamil Nadu has signed 21 MoUs with Taiwanese firms, and that the Foxconn iPhone facility contributes to 41% of India’s electronics exports. For non-Indian companies, these developments highlight India–Taiwan cooperation as a strategic gateway to the Indo-Pacific supply chain, offering opportunities to align with the “non-Red” and “democratic value” supply networks that are reshaping global manufacturing and technology ecosystems.
Editor’s Note: India–Taiwan ties reached new heights on Taiwan’s 114th National Day, celebrating 30 years of diplomatic partnership marked by $10.6 billion in bilateral trade, 300+ Taiwanese firms in India, and a 15% year-on-year trade growth in 2025. With Tamil Nadu emerging as a key investment hub—hosting 21 MoUs and Foxconn’s facility contributing 41% of India’s electronics exports—this collaboration positions both nations as strategic players in the Indo-Pacific’s democratic and diversified supply chain.
UK’s Graphcore to Invest £1 Billion in India, Strengthening Global AI and Semiconductor Collaboration
British AI chip designer Graphcore, now owned by SoftBank Group Corp., is set to invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in India to establish a research center in Bengaluru, creating up to 500 jobs over five years. The announcement will be made during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India, as part of a wider business mission to deepen bilateral technology ties. Founded in Bristol and once seen as a potential rival to Nvidia, Graphcore achieved a $2.8 billion valuation in 2020 before facing commercial hurdles and being acquired by SoftBank. The new investment aligns with Masayoshi Son’s AI infrastructure strategy, reflecting renewed confidence in India’s fast-growing innovation ecosystem.
The move comes amid India’s rapid ascent as a global AI and semiconductor hub, supported by an $8.6 billion government fund to attract foreign chipmakers. Recent milestones include Tata Group’s $11 billion fab project with Taiwan’s Powerchip and Micron’s $3 billion facility, positioning India at the heart of the next wave of digital manufacturing. For non-Indian companies, Graphcore’s expansion signals India’s emergence as a strategic destination for AI and chip R&D partnerships, offering access to a vast talent pool, competitive costs, and proximity to major Asian supply chains — a combination increasingly vital in the evolving global tech order.
https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/investments/softbanks-graphcore-plans-1-3-billion-chip-investment-in-india/124404130?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etcio_news_2025-10-09&dt=2025-10-09&em=cHJlbWppdGhrQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ==
Editor’s Note: Graphcore, now owned by SoftBank, will invest £1 billion to set up an AI chip research center in Bengaluru, creating 500 jobs and reinforcing UK–India tech collaboration during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit. This move reflects growing global confidence in India’s $8.6 billion semiconductor push, positioning the country as a strategic hub for AI innovation, chip R&D, and digital manufacturing.
Air India and Taiwan’s Starlux Ink Interline Pact to Boost Connectivity Across Asia
Air India has signed an interline agreement with Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines, enabling passengers of both carriers to enjoy seamless travel on single-ticket itineraries across India and East Asia. The partnership allows Air India customers to access Taipei via key Southeast Asian hubs — Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Kuala Lumpur — while Starlux passengers gain smooth connections to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The agreement ensures coordinated baggage handling and simplified transfers, enhancing travel convenience. Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the partnership aligns with the airline’s commitment to offering premium global connectivity while welcoming Starlux passengers to explore India through its extensive domestic network.
The collaboration marks another strategic step in Air India’s global expansion following its recent tie-up with Air Astana of Kazakhstan, which enhanced connectivity to Almaty, a rising Central Asian hub. For non-Indian companies, these alliances highlight India’s growing aviation network as a regional connector between South Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia, creating new opportunities for tourism, business travel, and logistics partnerships in a rapidly integrating Indo-Pacific air corridor.
Editor’s Note: Air India has partnered with Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines to offer seamless single-ticket travel across India and East Asia via key hubs like Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore, enhancing connectivity and passenger convenience. This follows Air India’s tie-up with Air Astana, reinforcing India’s role as a strategic aviation connector in the Indo-Pacific, with growing opportunities for tourism, business, and logistics.
India Eases Path for Chinese Investment in Electronics Manufacturing, Prioritizes Technology Transfer and Skill Development
In a significant policy shift, the Indian government is taking steps to encourage Chinese investment in the electronics manufacturing sector, focusing on technology transfer and local workforce training as core components of its industrial strategy. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have emphasized that India’s long-term goal of building a self-reliant manufacturing base for complex electronic components cannot be achieved through assembly operations alone. The government is streamlining the technology transfer process under the Electronics Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme (ECMS), allowing related expenditures to count toward the investment thresholds. This move is expected to attract foreign firms — particularly Chinese companies — that are seeking to establish joint ventures in India. Recent examples include Dixon Technologies’ tie-up with China’s Longcheer Intelligence to form Dixtel Infocomm, which will produce smartphones, tablets, and smart devices.
Beyond investment, the government is prioritizing local workforce development to reduce India’s reliance on overseas training programs. MeitY officials have acknowledged that while China leads the world in trained manufacturing talent, India faces a shortage of skilled technicians in advanced electronics production. To bridge this gap, foreign partners are being urged to invest in upskilling Indian workers and help create a sustainable talent ecosystem. For non-Indian companies, this evolving framework presents a strategic opportunity to enter one of the world’s fastest-growing electronics markets through joint ventures that balance commercial returns with technology sharing and workforce integration—a model that could redefine global manufacturing collaborations in the post-China era.
https://observervoice.com/india-explores-chinese-joint-ventures-in-ecms-for-enhanced-tech-transfer-and-knowledge-development-150477/
Editor’s Note: India is easing restrictions to attract Chinese investment in electronics manufacturing, emphasizing technology transfer and local workforce training under the Electronics Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme. This strategic shift aims to build a self-reliant ecosystem by encouraging joint ventures like Dixtel Infocomm and urging foreign partners to upskill Indian technicians, positioning India as a key player in post-China global manufacturing.