AatmaNirbhar Bharat: Amazon announces its first electronic devices manufacturing line in India

Amazon on Tuesday said it will begin manufacturing Amazon Devices, including Fire TV sticks, in Chennai later this year in partnership with Foxconn’s subsidiary, Cloud Network Technology. “This is the first Amazon manufacturing line in India, reiterating our commitment to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ for an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The device manufacturing programme will be able to produce hundreds of thousands of Fire TV Stick devices (for video streaming) every year, catering to the demands of customers in India,” Amazon said in a blog post.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday held a virtual meeting with Amit Agarwal, Amazon’s Global Senior Vice President and Country Head for India. Range of issues related to the digital sector was discussed during this meeting. After this meeting, Amazon India has made an announcement to start the manufacturing electronics products from India. To begin with, Amazon is going to start manufacturing Amazon Fire TV stick from India.

Held a very good conversation with @AmitAgarwal and @Chetankrishna of @amazonIN today. Delighted to share that soon Amazon will commence manufacturing of electronics products like FireTV stick in India. pic.twitter.com/BRpnUG6fA5

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 16, 2021

Speaking on the occasion Prasad said, “India is an attractive investment destination and is poised to become a major player in the global supply chain in the electronics and IT products industry. Our Government’s decision to launch a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme has received a tremendous response globally. We welcome Amazon’s decision to set up a manufacturing line in Chennai, as it will enhance domestic production capacities, and create jobs as well. This will further our mission of creating an AatmaNirbhar Bharat which is digitally empowered.”

He also mentioned that it is only a beginning for Amazon’s efforts to manufacture electronics products from India India and export markets. Amazon will commence its manufacturing efforts with contract manufacturer Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn in Chennai and start production later this year. The device manufacturing program will be able to produce hundreds of thousands of Fire TV Stick devices every year, catering to the demands of customers in India. Amazon will continuously evaluate scaling capacity to additional marketplaces/cities depending on the domestic demand.

India has taken several key steps to encourage electronics manufacturing in India. The Production Linked Manufacturing (PLI) for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing has emerged as a major success with many international companies commencing production of electronics goods from India. The entry of Amazon into this sector adds to the success story of electronics manufacturing in India.

IT Minister wrote on Koo, “Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, electronics manufacturing in India has recently attracted some of the biggest investments from global giants. Happy to share Amazon India is the latest to join this success story of India.” Prasad asked Amazon India to help in taking products made by India’s artisans and Ayurvedic products to global markets through eCommerce Platform. He said, “Amazon is a global company but Amazon India must evolve as a truly India company deeply connected with Indian business community and culture.”