In a significant move, the Indian government has granted approval to 110 out of 111 applications, allowing leading tech companies like Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and many others to import laptops, computers, and IT hardware products. This development comes one month after the government reversed its plans to impose a licensing system on IT hardware imports, opting for an ‘import management system’ instead.
Notable among the applicants are hardware giants like HP, Lenovo, IBM, Apple, Asus, Samsung, Xiaomi, Cisco Commerce India, Siemens, and Bosch, signaling a major shift in the country’s IT import policies.
According to a government official, “Around 110 import authorizations have been issued till date. All major IT hardware companies have already availed authorizations. All applications received are being disposed of within the time stipulated. There is no pendency as on date.”
The earlier proposal to impose licensing mandates was based on the Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s (DGFT) restrictions issued in August, aiming to ensure the quality and security of IT hardware products. However, this move created concerns among global players operating in India and led to intense industry criticism.
As part of its efforts to boost local manufacturing, India introduced a $2 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to attract global companies, furthering its commitment to developing a trusted supply chain for IT hardware products.
With the new ‘import management system’ in place, IT hardware importers will be required to obtain international certifications to sell their products, ensuring quality and security standards are met.
India remains a significant consumer of imported computers and laptops, with millions of devices shipped into the country regularly. The most recent data indicates that vendors sent over 3.9 million desktops, notebooks, and tablets to India between April and June 2023, despite a 15% year-on-year decline.
