As Apple plans on expanding its operations in India, its contract manufacturer Foxconn is now tasked by the Karnataka government to create more employment opportunities, just as the iPhone manufacturing facility managed to create as many as 30,000 jobs within eight months of starting the operation.
Foxconn’s massive iPhone manufacturing unit in Devanahalli has achieved what the officials call the fastest ramp-up in Indian industrial history. Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for Electronics, IT, and BT, announced that the facility has already generated 30,000 jobs within just eight months of starting the operation. The state has now set its sights on reaching a workforce of 50,000 by 2026.
Apple increases its Indian manufacturing arm
The Devanahalli plant, which sits on a sprawling 300-acre campus, represents an investment of approximately Rs 20,000 crore. According to Minister Kharge, the facility is already responsible for over 80% of iPhone production intended for exports, firmly positioning Karnataka as a major player in the international electronics market.
“Foxconn’s new Apple iPhone unit is setting new benchmarks for manufacturing in India. The Rs 20,000 crore investment spread across a 300-acre campus is delivering strong results,” Kharge stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He noted that the state’s robust Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) policy has been the anchor for this success.
A standout feature of the factory’s operational model is its commitment to gender diversity. Minister Kharge revealed that women comprise approximately 80% of the total workforce.
To ensure high-quality output and safety, the company provides a mandatory six-week training program for all employees before they are deployed on the shop floor. This focus on skill development is part of the state’s broader strategy to evolve into a “powerhouse ecosystem” for high-volume electronics manufacturing.
The rapid expansion of the Foxconn unit highlights Karnataka’s dominance in the technology sector. Current figures show that the state now accounts for 50% of India’s electronic product companies, 40% of India’s electronic design sector, and 10% of the national electronics output.
Foxconn moving beyond assembly
The news comes on the heels of reports that Apple is in early-stage discussions with Indian semiconductor firms, such as Murugappa Group’s CG Semi, to handle the assembly and packaging of iPhone components locally. This shift would mark a transition for the Indian tech industry from being purely an assembly hub to a comprehensive semiconductor and electronics manufacturing destination.
