Multinational vendors want consultation on manufacturing-led incentive scheme

NEW DELHI: A move by the telecom department to finalise a production-linked incentive scheme to spur local manufacturing of telecommunications equipment without industry consultations has alarmed overseas gear makers.

Gear makers such as Nokia and Huawei say wider consultations are needed before finalising the policy as they have already invested millions of dollars and are hoping to put in more money and export from India.

In a May 14 letter to telecom secretary Anshu Prakash, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said that there has been “no formal industry consultation by DoT” (Department of Telecommunications) so far on the proposed scheme or a draft policy.