I will bring Intel to India: Maran

The Minster of Communications and IT is planning a trip in May to meet Intel
CEO Craig Barrett and convince him to set up a manufacturing unit in the country

Intel had shortlisted India and China as two possible locations for its next
manufa-cturing 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.