PM Modi, Moon visit world’s ‘largest’ mobile factory

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday visited a manufacturing plant of Korean manufacturing giant Samsung in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, bordering Delhi, billed as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturing facility, with PM Modi saying his government’s pet “Make in India” initiative has propelled India to become the world’s second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones as the number of factories soared to 120 from just two, four years ago. Speaking at the opening of the facility, PM Modi said four lakh direct jobs have been created as the number of factories making mobile phones increased.

It may be recalled that the government has been facing criticism from the Opposition on the issue of lack of job creation in the country. The government hopes trade and investment ties with global economic powerhouses like South Korea will generate a large number of jobs, even as India is heading into elections next year. PM Modi and President Moon — who began a four-day visit to India on Sunday evening — will hold delegation-level talks in the capital on Tuesday after which some pacts are expected to be inked between the two countries. The South Korean side has already earmarked a whopping US$ 10 billion as “Financing arrangement for infrastructure development in India”.

PM Modi said 30 per cent of the phones manufactured at the factory, built at a cost of `5,000 crore, will be exported. Stating that South Korean products can be found in almost all middle-class homes, he said Samsung is a world leader in the smartphone market, adding that Samsung had an R&D hub in India and now has a manufacturing base too. Stating that smartphones made at the factory will be exported to the Middle-east and Africa, he said the South Korean government will do utmost to provide all support. “Cheaper mobile phones, high-speed internet, and cheap data are ensuring fast service delivery,” PM Modi said, adding, “India today is the second bigger manufacturer of mobile phones.”

“Today is an important day in making India a global hub of manufacturing,” PM Modi said, adding that the investments in such factories are a cornerstone of India’s economic and commercial engagements with countries like South Korea