New Delhi

Global mobile manufacturing giants Samsung, Foxconn and iPhone maker Pegatron have applied for the Centre's production-linked manufacturing scheme for electronics in the country, Union IT Minister Ravishankar Prasad said on Saturday.

According to the Minister, India's electronic production has increased by 23 per cent.

Similarly, mobile phone manufacturing has also increased, he said.

Consequently, India now makes 33 crore mobile units yearly, according to the Minister.

He cited companies such as Samsung, Foxconn Honhai, Rising Star, Vistron, Pegatron, Lava, Dixon, Micromax, Sojo, Optmis have applied to avail the benefits under the scheme.

The Minister was speaking at a press conference on the PLI scheme here on Saturday.

He said that Centre is giving a 5 per cent incentive to both 'global and Indian companies'.

In all, the Centre has received 22 applications.

Besides, the Minister informed that companies have informed the government that they plan to produce mobile and components worth Rs 11.5 lakh crore in the next five years Furthermore, he said that products worth Rs 7 lakh crore will be exported.

On the employment generation potential of the scheme, the Minister said that three lakh direct jobs and nine lakh indirect jobs are expected to be created.