Samsung considers entering local mobile assembly market

Pakistani mobile users will be able to afford top of the line mobile devices in future courtesy of locally manufactured devices by an international producer. According to sources, Samsung had shortlisted several companies that it could consider awarding license to for setting up a mobile assembly plant in Pakistan. It is now being reported that the tech giant is in the process of finalizing its plan and one of the companies is all set to receive the license to set up the manufacturing plant.

The news of the company setting up mobile assembly plants in Pakistan broke last year when then Minister for Industries and Productions Hammad Azhar tweeted that “Smartphone production in Pakistan is multiplying following the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) implementation and Mobile [Device Manufacturing] Policy launched recently”.

One of the three parties which are keen on investing in the plant, is a part of the South Korean investor pool that has already built vehicle assembly units in Pakistan, under the Auto Development Policy 2016-2021. Market sources further revealed that Samsung might prefer the option to sign an agreement with one of the Korean companies operating in Pakistan as it already shares a comfort level with them.

The interest of foreign players in setting up cellphone manufacturing units in Pakistan is due to the MDMP policy launched recently said sources. The policy was framed so that products are produced under the banner of ‘Make in Pakistan’ and imports are discouraged.

According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, telecom sector has captured over $3.9 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during July 2012 to February 2021. The FDI in telecom during July-February FY21 was $101.1 million. Telecom operators have invested an amount of $363.9m during July-December FY21.

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