I will sell India to Intel: Maran

NEW DELHI: Minister of Communications & IT Dayanidhi Maran is set on persuading Intel to set up a manufacturing unit in India. And with this aim in mind, he is planning a trip to the US in the last week of May to meet Intel CEO Craig Barrett.

Intel had shortlisted India and China as two possible locations for its next manufacturing unit and would be taking a decision on this matter soon.

Replying to questions on the sidelines of the seminar on "Sharing of Experience -- DoT and British Telecom", hosted by the Department of Telecom (DoT), Maran said, "I need manufacturing here and am even willing to travel to the US to persuade the company to set up its unit in India".

Close on the heels of Nokia announcing the setting up of its manufacturing unit in India, if this deal comes through it would be another feather in the cap telecom minister's cap.

Maran also expressed happiness over the finance minister's decision to reduce the fringe benefit tax (FBT) on telecom equipment. He added that his main concern was that domestic manufacturing should be less expensive than imports, otherwise no one would set up a manufacturing unit in India.