Dixon awaits govt nod to make displays for sub-Rs 15k phones jointly with HKC

PARIS: Electronics contract manufacturer Dixon Technologies is awaiting government approval to produce display modules for mobile phones priced below Rs 15,000, as well as for laptops and tablets, in partnership with China-based display firm HKC, said Sunil Vachani, chairman of the company.

The company filed its application about six weeks ago and is now awaiting clearance, as the proposal falls under Press Note 3. Under this rule, India requires prior approval for foreign investments from countries with which it shares a land border. These include China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.

"We have recently filed the application," Vachani said, adding that the company will explore alternative manufacturing options if approvals are not granted.

He noted that if India's free trade agreements with the EU and the US materialize, the country could aim for $100 billion in annual exports.

Vachani emphasized the need for companies to look beyond mobile phone manufacturing and expand into laptop production.

"They can be easily manufactured and scaled up with high value addition," he said.

Currently, India imports $15 billion worth of IT products annually.

To boost its IT hardware manufacturing, Dixon Technologies has formed a joint venture with Taiwan-based Inventec.

Vachani also said that Korean and Taiwanese companies involved in display technology for mobile phones have exited the sub-?15,000 segment.

(The correspondent is in Paris at the invitation of the commerce and industry ministry.)