Rahul Gandhi Praises Karnataka's Rapid Factory Expansion Amid Foxconn Hiring Surge
In a recent statement, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi lauded the Karnataka government's swift factory expansion, particularly highlighting Foxconn's impressive hiring of nearly 30,000 workers in just nine months. With around 80% of these new employees being women, Gandhi emphasized the significance of this achievement as a transformative step in job creation. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also acknowledged this development, attributing it to the success of the 'Make in India' initiative. As Foxconn ramps up production in Bengaluru, the facility is set to play a crucial role in Apple's manufacturing strategy, potentially producing millions of iPhones annually. This article explores the implications of these developments for the Indian economy.
| Dec 25, 2025, 12:45 IST
Karnataka's Remarkable Factory Growth
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi commended the Karnataka government this week, labeling it as the fastest factory expansion process in India to date. He highlighted the swift recruitment efforts by Foxconn, which is located near Bengaluru. Gandhi referred to the company's hiring of nearly 30,000 workers within just nine months, with around 80% of them being women. On Monday, he shared a screenshot of a report from the Economic Times on Facebook.
Gandhi stated, “In just eight to nine months, 30,000 employees have been hired - the fastest factory production growth in India... This is not just a statistic; it represents a revolutionary job creation effort. What makes this even more impressive is that this facility is primarily led by women, with about 80% being young women aged 19-24... For many, this is their first job. Karnataka is setting a precedent by creating an environment where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed. This is the India we need to build: dignified jobs and opportunities for all.”
On Wednesday, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw credited the central government for this development through a post on X. Sharing a screenshot of Gandhi's post and the news report, Vaishnaw expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for acknowledging the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative. He stated, 'As you mentioned, we are becoming a productive economy by implementing the Prime Minister's vision.'
Taiwan-based Foxconn is a major contract manufacturer for Apple devices, including the latest iPhone 17, and is expected to play a central role in the gradual transfer of production from China to India. Once fully operational, the Bengaluru facility is anticipated to have the capacity to produce up to 20 million iPhones annually. Over the past year, iPhones worth $22 billion have been assembled in India, which now accounts for approximately 20% of Apple's total global iPhone production.