By Mewati Sitaram
Indian companies are driving a new phase of strategic cooperation with Chinese firms, even as geopolitical sensitivities and regulatory roadblocks remain. With the Indian government launching a ₹23,000-crore incentive scheme to bolster electronics component production, both Indian and Chinese companies are adapting—moving away from traditional joint ventures towards technology-sharing alliances and minority equity deals.
A notable example of this shift is the recent engagement between Voltas and China’s Highly Group. While a proposed joint venture for a compressor plant failed due to protracted government approvals and border tensions, Highly reversed its earlier stance and proposed a technical partnership instead. This reflects a growing trend: Chinese firms are now more willing to partner with Indian companies.
Despite the policy hurdles, Indian companies like Dixon Technologies, Micromax, Zetwerk, and Syrma SGS are actively pursuing collaborations for high-precision components such as display modules, camera systems, and circuit boards. Micromax has already partnered with China’s Huaqin, while Dixon has joined hands with HKC for display manufacturing.
These evolving partnerships are beginning to bear fruit, with Chinese-led manufacturing operations in India now exporting to West Asia, Africa, and the U.S. As India targets a rise in domestic value addition in electronics from 20% to 40% by 2030, India-China industrial collaboration is quietly redefining global supply chain dynamics.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
