New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has expressed his gratitude to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for recognizing the impact of the "Make in India" initiative, particularly in the context of Foxconn's recent hiring spree in Karnataka. This comes after Gandhi acknowledged the rapid expansion of Foxconn's iPhone assembly unit, which has recruited 30,000 employees in just eight to nine months.
Gandhi, in a social media post, highlighted the transformative nature of this job creation, noting that it's not merely a statistic but a significant development for India's manufacturing sector. He also emphasized the predominantly female workforce at the facility, where around 80% of the employees are women, many of whom are first-time job seekers in the 19-24 age group. Gandhi stated that this reflects the kind of industrial growth India should pursue, one that provides dignified jobs and opportunities for all.
Vaishnaw responded by thanking Gandhi for acknowledging the achievement, viewing it as a validation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" program. He highlighted that the rapid scale-up of the Foxconn unit demonstrates India's growing strength as a global manufacturing hub, especially in electronics and high-value production. Vaishnaw also pointed out that Gandhi's praise for the Foxconn plant is evidence that India's manufacturing push has gained irreversible momentum under the Modi government.
The Foxconn facility, located in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, is a major iPhone assembly unit and a key part of Apple's strategy to diversify its supply chain beyond China. Reports indicate that over 80% of the unit's production is destined for export, underscoring India's increasing role in global electronics manufacturing. The plant began trial production in April-May, initially assembling iPhone 16 models, and has since moved to manufacturing the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The new factory is likely to become the country's largest, both in terms of production capacity and employment, once fully completed. The campus includes six large dormitories, several of which are already operational, with additional facilities under construction, and is expected to develop into a mini township with residential, medical, educational, and recreational facilities. Workers receive free accommodation and subsidised meals, and earn an average wage of around ₹18,000 per month, which is among the highest for women in blue-collar manufacturing roles.
Foxconn is investing nearly ₹20,000 crore in the project. The facility is expected to eventually house up to a dozen iPhone assembly lines and will surpass Foxconn's existing iPhone plant in Tamil Nadu. Recruits undergo six weeks of on-the-job training before being inducted into production, as Apple works with partners to develop skills and deepen the local manufacturing ecosystem.
This exchange between Vaishnaw and Gandhi has sparked discussion about India's economic narrative and the impact of central government policies. While Gandhi positioned the Foxconn project as proof of Karnataka's governance model, Vaishnaw and the BJP framed it as a result of central policy consistency and global investor confidence in India's manufacturing ecosystem. The Modi government has been actively encouraging Apple's vendors, including Foxconn, to shift their manufacturing operations from China, offering production-linked incentives to boost mobile manufacturing and electronic components.
