Strategic Move: Samsung’s Mobile Division President Confirms Commencement of Laptop Manufacturing in Noida Later This Year
Samsung is gearing up to initiate laptop manufacturing at its Noida facility later this year, as confirmed by a top executive of the South Korean tech giant. Having already established itself as a prominent manufacturer of smartphones in India, with products distributed both domestically and for export, Samsung is extending its production capabilities to include laptops. Currently, Samsung’s laptops are manufactured in China and Vietnam, but the upcoming shift to produce laptops in Noida is anticipated to cater specifically to the Indian market.
TM Roh, the President of Samsung’s Mobile Division, shared this development during a media briefing on Monday, emphasizing the strategic significance of the Noida facility. Roh stated, “Noida is a very important production base for Samsung. It is the second largest base for Samsung. There may be some changes at the plant to optimize it as per the global demand but what remains unchanged is the fact that it is an important base for us.”
While initial reports last September indicated Samsung’s plans to commence laptop production in Noida within a month, subsequent delays were observed. However, the company has now officially confirmed its commitment to manufacturing laptops in India, reflecting Samsung’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and contribute to the growth of the electronics industry in the country.
The government placed restrictions on the import of laptops in August 2023, as part of its efforts to boost domestic manufacturing. Apple, HP, and Samsung halted laptop imports at the time, after which the government granted firms a three-month period before the licensing regime for laptop imports came into effect.
However, before the three-month period was up, the government reversed its decision and said it would not impose the licensing requirement on imports of laptops and computers. At the time, the government said it would only monitor inbound shipments of these laptops.
Last May, the government announced the PLI 2.0 scheme for IT hardware with an outlay of Rs. 17,000 crore. India reportedly imported computers and laptops worth $7.37 billion (roughly Rs. 61,300 crore) in 2021-22, which fell to $5.33 billion (roughly Rs. 44,300 crore) in 2022-23.