'Made in India' plan: iPhones could soon be manufactured in Maharashtra

Apple’s signature smartphone - iPhone - may soon be manufactured in Maharashtra as the State government is reportedly keen on attracting companies such as Foxconn from China. This would imply that consumers will get the opportunity to flaunt a premium ‘Made in India’ iPhone, very soon. According to a report by  DNA, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was a part of PM Narendra Modi’s recent delegation in China, visited Foxconn’s manufacturing facility in the Henan province. Fadnavis said that the State Government was in talks with the company to set up a manufacturing plant in Maharashtra as well. It is believed that Devendra Fadnavis’s regime is quite eager to boost the new manufacturing plant in the state, as would provide more employment opportunities as well as attract many youngsters to join the workforce. Fadnavis also told DNA that a possible site for the plant, which would need a ‘huge investment’, could either be Pune or Aurangabad. According to a report by  _**FirstPost**_ , the Chief Minister, who spoke about strengthening ties between Maharashtra and Chinese provinces at the ‘Forum of Leaders of Regions of India and China’, in a series of tweets, thanked Premier Li and Modi “for making province to province connect a reality,” adding “he looks forward to stronger partnerships.” “Our country is rapidly urbanising, so our PM has unveiled his vision of making smart cities. India’s most urbanised state, Maharashtra has much to contribute to it and thus would welcome Chinese expertise and investment in this sector,” Fadnavis said. “I would look forward to more Chinese investments in Maharashtra in future,” Fadnavis said. He adds, “I am planning a special visit to the province Qingdao to learn from Chinese infrastructure development in coastal area.” “China has been a significant investor in Maharashtra, investing $350 million as of now. We will also establish Chinese language/cultural study centre in memory of Prof JiXianLin who translated Ramayana in Chinese. I believe in cooperative federalism and development for all,” Fadnavis said. Every third person in the world is either Chinese or Indian. In fact, the two countries contributed 50 percent in the world economy in 1850, Fadnavis noted.