Telecom equipment imports jumped 32% to Rs 89,929 crore in FY15: Prasad

Import of telecom equipment has risen over 32% to Rs 89,929 crore in 2014-15 compared to the previous fiscal, Parliament was informed on Friday.

"As per the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), import of telecom equipment during 2013-14 was Rs 67,844 crore and Rs 89,929 crore in 2014-15," Minister of Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He added the government is taking a number of steps to promote domestic manufacturing of electronics (including telecom) equipment under Make in India programme.

Some of these steps include offering financial assistance through programmes like M-SIPS and EMC schemes.

"Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) provides financial incentives to offset disability and attracts investments in the electronics hardware (including telecom equipment) manufacturing," the Minister said.

The scheme, which provides subsidy for investments in special economic zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs, is open to receive applications till July 26, 2020, he added.

"Electronics manufacturing clusters (EMC) scheme provides finance assistance for creating world-class infrastructure for electronics manufacturing units," Prasad said.

For greenfield EMC, the financial assistance of 50% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs 50 crore for 100 acres of land is provided as grant.

For brownfield EMC, 75% of cost infrastructure, subject to a ceiling of Rs 50 crore is provided.

"The policy for providing preference to domestic manufacturers for 23 notified telecom products in government procurement has already been implemented," he said.

Also, approvals for all foreign direct investment up to 100% in the electronic hardware (including telecom equipment) manufacturing sector are under the automatic route, he added.