Centre forms IMG to take up US Apple’s sop demands

A group of senior officials from ministries, including commerce and finance, will early next month deliberate on the incentives sought by US-based iPhone maker Apple to set up a manufacturing unit in the country. Officials from departments of commerce, industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), revenue, environment and forest, electronics and information technology (DeITY) will attend the meeting.

The group is likely to meet in the first week of January to discuss the issue, sources said. In a communication to the government, the Cupertino-based technology major has asked for several tax and other incentives to enter India in the manufacturing sector. However, government sources said that the technology major should set up the manufacturing unit in India without seeking additional support. 

“Several companies in India are manufacturing mobile phones in India. Nobody is asking for additional incentives. 

Currently, the government provides sufficient support to boost electronic manufacturing,” they added. The government provides benefits under Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to boost electronic manufacturing in the country.