Laptop import nods may be tied to capacity growth

Boosting Domestic Manufacturing

- RAVI DUTTA MISHRA

TO REDUCE IMPORT dependence and boost domestic manufacturing of laptops and other IT hardware items, the Union government may link import permissions to domestic capacity expansion going forward, it has been learnt.

The government is also considering the introduction of a credit system for such imports, with a final decision likely once domestic production in India reaches a critical threshold.

The strategy, a source said, mirrors the approach that successfully attracted investment in the tyre manufacturing sector where the government temporarily eased import restrictions on certain tyre categories, contingent on establishing local manufacturing facilities.