Foxconn to set up manufacturing, research and development facilities in Maharashtra in next 5 years

Foxconn chairman Terry Gou on Saturday, 8 August, expressed an interest in expanding the company's reach to every Indian state after setting up in Pune, Maharashtra.

Speaking to CNBC-TV 18, Gou said, "We want to expand our base after setting it up in Pune. The Maharashtra government had encouraged us to come to India and invest in the state."

The plant in Pune will be dedicated to production, innovation and research and development and the company is looking for local partners. Gou said Foxconn had already visited the plants of Tata Sons, TCS and Shapoorji Pallonji in search of a partner.

Foxconn intends to work in areas of solar energy, smart power transmission, data centres and investment in startups as a part of the company's Internet Plus plan.

The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra state government to set up a plant in Pune, its biggest manufacturing plant, which will require an investment of $5 billion over the next five years. Around 50,000 jobs are expected to be created as a result of the MoU.