Apple will have `Made in India' iPhones, and that will be manufactured from a factory in Bengaluru. The Karnataka government has issued a release welcoming the Apple's proposal "to commence initial manufacturing operations" in the state.

The release, that was signed by the state IT minister Priyank Kharge, has said that Apple's intentions to manufacture in Bengaluru "will foster cutting edge technology ecosystem and supply chain development in the state, which are critical for India to compete globally."

State ministers and officials had met with several senior Apple executives including the Cupertino-based Priya Balasubramaniam, VP - iPhone operations, Dheeraj Chugh, director - iPhone operations and Ali Khanafer, senior manager - government affairs (India and Middle East).

Taiwanese company Wistron, which is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of Apple, will make the iPhones from its facility in the city's industrial hub of Peenya.

"We made concerted efforts to reach out to Apple directly. We want to create a conducive environment for global majors like Apple so that we emerge as their preferred partner in their India growth story," Kharge said.

"There is no component ecosystem in the country besides what Samsung has done in India. With Apple's China sales slowing down, it's opportunity India, and Apple might look at a different SKU, distribution and sourcing model to make it affordable to millions of aspiring customers," said Navkendar Singh, senior research manager - mobile devices research, India and South Asia, in research firm IDC.

By Premji