Weekly News Updates-November 1 to November 7

Applications cleared to import laptops and other IT hardware; Tripura to sign MoU with Taiwanese University; Minda Corp and HCMF form JV for manufacturing sunroof and allied products in India; India’s 5G smartphone shipments grow 78% in Q3; Odisha govt signs 3 MoUs to reinforce semiconductor fabrication; iPhone 17 may be developed in India from the second half of 2024; Taiwan may get ISA support

About 110 applications cleared by the government to import laptops and other IT hardware

On the first day of the new system’s implementation, 110 out of the 111 applications—including those from Apple, Dell, and Lenovo—that requested authorization for the importing of IT hardware products, such as laptops and desktops, valued at close to USD 10 billion, were approved by the government, an official said.

According to the official, HP India Sales Pvt Ltd, ASUS India, IBM India, Samsung India Electronics, Xiaomi Technology India, Cisco Commerce India, Microsoft Corporation (India), Siemens Ltd, Bosch Ltd, Redington Ltd, Ingram Micro India, and Oracle India are among the other businesses that have been granted import approvals.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/business/govt-clears-about-110-applications-for-imports-of-laptops-and-other-it-hardware-products-538815#:~:text=IT%20hardware%20products-,Govt%20clears%20about%20110%20applications%20for%20imports,and%20other%20IT%20hardware%20products&text=The%20government%20has%20cleared%20about,so%20far%2C%20an%20official%20said.

Editor’s Note: This is a follow-up news on the licensing of import of IT items as we were covering the developments from India in our earlier editions. Good to see that almost all applications has been cleared for a smooth operation for the IT companies, which include Asus from Taiwan.

Tripura to sign MoU with Taiwanese University for collaborative studies

An official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced that the Tripura government has chosen to work with a Taiwanese university in order to provide high-quality education that is in line with the most recent technological advancements.

The state-run Tripura Institute of Technology (TIT) will work with Providence University, a Taiwan-based university, according to a statement released by the CMO. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on this subject was to be inked soon, according to the statement.

https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/tripura-sign-mou-taiwanese-university-collaborative-studies-exchange-programme-9013922/

Minda Corp, HCMF to form JV for manufacturing sunroof and allied products in India

The flagship company of Spark Minda, Minda Corporation (Minda Corp), a tier 1 supplier, and Taiwan-based HSIN Chong Machinery Works (HCMF), a major producer of automobile sunroof and closure systems, have agreed to establish a joint venture (JV).

The joint venture would provide a complete system solution for passenger car sunroofs in India, including design, development, and production as part of localization.

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/express-mobility-minda-corp-hcmf-to-form-jv-for-manufacturing-sunroof-and-allied-products-in-india-3295008/

Editor’s Note: India’s automobile industry is on an upward trajectory and is poised to be the 3rd larges in the world by 2030. This opens a very good opportunity for Taiwanese companies to consider. This news is a happy news in Taiwan India collaboration in Automobile sector.

India’s 5G smartphone shipments grow 78% in Q3

According to a recent survey, India’s share of 5G smartphone shipments increased to 57% in the third quarter (Q3) of this year, representing a 78 percent year-over-year gain.

CyberMedia Research (CMR) reports that Samsung led the 5G smartphone market in the country with a 23 per cent market share, followed by Vivo at 16 per cent. In Q3 2023, 5G devices, valued at $11 billion, began to be shipped.

The survey stated that the entire mobile market suffered only a slight percent decrease while the smartphone market in India stayed steady year over year. With 69 percent of the market, the value-for-money smartphone sector (Rs 7,000–25,000) held the biggest share.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/indias-5g-smartphone-shipments-surge-by-78-with-samsung-leading-cmr-report

Odisha govt signs 3 MoUs to reinforce semiconductor fabrication

According to reports, in order to create an ecosystem for the production of semiconductors, the Odisha government signed MOUs with three entities

These were signed by the government with the Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), the multinational semiconductor giant Synopsys and Electronics, and the India Electronic and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

As per the terms of the agreement with IESA, the association would assist the Odisha government in creating initiatives aimed at enhancing capacity and advancing the semiconductor ecosystem by organizing events and creating educational materials, according to the officials.

https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2023/11/03/ces3-od-semiconductor.html

iPhone 17 may be developed in India from the second half of 2024: Analyst

Acclaimed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has disclosed Apple’s intentions to increase manufacturing and reach in India. The new product introduction (NPI) for the regular iPhone 17, which is scheduled for release in the second half of 2025, is anticipated to begin in India in the second half of 2024, according to Kuo. According to Kuo, this is the first time Apple has started working on a new iPhone model outside of China. He goes on to say that the regular iPhone model was selected because its design development was less complicated, hence lowering design risk.

Kuo went on to forecast Apple’s increasing Indian production output. Kuo asserts that in 2023, 11–14% of the world’s iPhone shipments would come from India, where Foxconn will control 75–80% of the nation’s iPhone manufacturing capacity.

https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/apple-iphone-17-development-process-to-begin-in-india-by-late-2024-ming-chi-kuo-404296-2023-11-02

Taiwan may get ISA support

According to reports, Taiwan may receive “representation” in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a development that highlights the growing rivalry between China and India.

Taiwan has applied to join the alliance, but since it is not recognized by the UN, ISA is unlikely to grant it full membership.

The ISA, which has its headquarters in India and is the first treaty-based international government organization, has played a significant role in India’s outreach to the developing world through its foreign policy.

China and Russia are two of the largest economies that are conspicuously missing from the list of ISA signatories and members.

https://www.livemint.com/economy/taiwan-may-get-isa-toehold-11698777266391.html

Editor’s Note: As per this news item India played a crucial role in Taiwan getting a membership in ISA. According to a recent estimate by global energy think group Ember, if India reaches its renewable targets by 2032, the country’s growth in power output over the next ten years will primarily come from solar and wind energy. India’s solar power sector has grown significantly, and by 2032, it is expected to have multiplied five times.