Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: In a bid to boost exports, the Ministry of Finance announced late on January 31 that it had reduced the import duty on parts used to manufacture mobile phones to 10 per cent from 15 per cent earlier.
According to the notification, the components on which the duty has been reduced include battery covers, main lens, GSM Antenna, SIM socket, screw, back cover, and other mechanical items of plastic and metal, among others.
Notably, several companies had been pushing for duty cuts on over a dozen components, to reduce the cost of making mobile phones in India. The companies said that it would level the playing field with competitors like China and Vietnam.
According to the industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), import duties on mobile phone components in India, such as camera modules and chargers, currently range from 2.5 per cent to 20 per cent.
