Apple exploring investment options in India: Ravi Shankar Prasad

New Delhi: Technology giant Apple Inc and other global players are exploring opportunities to invest in India's electronic segment, which has attracted investments of over Rs 1.2 lakh crore so far, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday.

"When I became minister, we had Rs 11,198 crore of investments in electronic manufacturing. I am happy to tell you, now it is Rs 1.2 lakh crore plus which has been invested in India or committed," Prasad said at the annual session of industry body CII.

He said that last year 111 million mobile phones were manufactured in India, logging a growth rate of 81 per cent in production.

"Today all the big companies from Taiwan to .... Have come in India. Apple is exploring possibility here in India. Therefore from smartphone to ordinary phone to solar panel to what not, immense potential is there in India . We have got a proper incentive scheme available including electronics clusters," Prasad said.

However, the minister did not divulge details on Apple's plans that whether the iPhone maker was exploring possibilities in retail segment or in manufacturing.

Prasad said that Digital India is going to create USD 1 trillion economy which will include USD 400 billion worth of electronics market, USD 350 billion worth IT and ITes sector and Rs 250 billion communication business.