Phased manufacturing programme may be extended to other sectors

Government aims to enable large-scale manufacturing of smartphones, one of the largest selling goods

The government might allow tax incentives and tariff intervention for more sectors, on the lines of the phased manufacturing programme (PMP) aimed at boosting mobile phone production.

This might be a logical step forward from the government policy of preference to domestic companies in government procurement, said Ramesh Abhishek, secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

Under the PMP, developed by the ministry of electronics and information technology and announced last month, the government aims to enable large-scale manufacturing of mobile phones, one of the largest selling consumer goods. Sub-parts such as mechanics, microphones, receivers, keypads and USB cables,