Live data from Hacker News

Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

reuters.com

71–80 of 288 posts

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The CAA makes it easier for non-Muslims to claim citizenship while Muslims slip through the cracks; that is the point of contention. No it doesn't. Here's the relevant part of CAA( http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/214646.pdf ) that mentions non-Muslims > Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into…

Dude, you literally are spreading false information and you're literally quoting one thing on one line and contradicting it on the second line. CAA makes it easier for non Muslims. you say 'no it doesn't' and then you literaly cite this: > Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31…

Nationwide NRC is different from NRC for Assam.

Nationwide NRC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Citizens) is mandated by 2003 Amendment of Citizenship act (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship_(Amendment)_Act,_2...). Look at the definition of illegal migrants there. It doesn't mention anything about your grandfather's papers.

Assam NRC is an entirely different beast (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Citizens_...). This was conducted as part of 2013 Supreme Court order. The entire process and the rules was prescribed and monitored by the Supreme court of India. The definition of illegal migrant is a far more stringent here since it hinges on 1971 Bangladeshi refugee crisis and subsequent bloody protests by the Assamese people.

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#72

in other news, suicide rate of India has sky rocketed.

This is just stupid. If you're referring to suicides in Foxconn factories, you first need to consider the size of the workforce. The suicide rate at Foxconn factories was, at the time of the report, and is still currently significantly lower than that of the US.

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#73

Would be interesting to see the politics surrounding this in light of the recent border conflict between India and China and the Indian government's ban on 59 Chinese apps and government contracts to Chinese firms.

Sounds like a defensive move to me for both Foxconn and Apple. If the India/China spat escalates and India starts outright banning more "made in China" products, then this is plan B so they can keep selling to India.

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#74
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> While there are negatives, I appreciate how globalization of manufacturing helps lift poorer economies Let's be real about those negatives. It seems as though it's always just the next country in line taking it's turn to provide subsistence-wage labor. The likes of Steve Pinker may argue that living standards continue to trend upwards across the board, but it seems like people are just becoming more and more time-p…

> The likes of Steve Pinker may argue that living standards continue to trend upwards across the board, but it seems like people are just becoming more and more time-poor (happy to be proven wrong on this point). Hours per day Americans spent on leisure and sports is not trending down: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/TUU10101AA01013585 On average it's higher now than in the early 2000s (annual survey begins in 2003).…

Thanks for the link.

I see also this, in wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time#Trends_over_time

It's probable that the hours have just displaced to poorer countries. Presumably the BLS data, nor the wiki graphic, have data that includes developing and underdeveloped nations.

Edit: I found a book on the topic for anyone interested

https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/@...

Edit: Page 44 in the above link shows an increase in working hours in the US (note that the 4 of the 5 other western countries compared have continued to trend down, but also have strong social welfare and working policy)

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#75

> With India’s labour cheaper compared with China, and the gradual expansion of its supplier base here, Apple will be able to use the country as an export hub While there are negatives, I appreciate how globalization of manufacturing helps lift poorer economies (albeit it slowly and not always agreeing with the politics of the newly-built middle classes). One might expect manufacturing in mid-Africa in two decades.

Actually I think, the most ideal countries to expand manufacturing to are African countries, they have some of the same advantages once china had. 1. Mineral Resources. 2. Cheap Labour. 3. High Density of Lanthanide and Actinide group minerals. China also has a fourth advantage which is a good mix of Production, Manufacturing and Electronics Engineers. Which Africa doesn't have. On the other hand India doesn't have t…

Those are not in the 'top 10' things required to support an electronics manufacturing base.

Africa is the last place any electronics are going to be made, and it's completely unsuitable to their situation, at least currently.

Manufacturing any kind of electronics any scale requires a fair bit of sophistication. There is a lot of know how in putting together lines, knowing what to optimise, managing supply chains.

I just got some quotes from various parties, they all had to have intimate, Engineering level understanding of the system, they all switched out parts, recommended alterations. They sometimes use expensive gear. Factories in China have labour, but they also have educated professionals.

They rely on an entire system of sub-contractors, suppliers etc.

Even before you get to that, in Africa you have:

- The electricity grid is inconsistent. - Basic things like water supply, air conditioning systems, HVAC is inconsistent, let alone trying to support a proper clean room. - Vehicle repair and maintenance can be hard. - Internet is inconsistent - Financial system is not fully coherent, financial services for many things don't exist. - Physical infrastructure (roads, buildings) is iffy everywhere. - Huge amounts of petty theft: things left unlocked will be stolen. - Massive corruption, payments to local grafters, police, politicians. - Political climate is unstable, politicians may promise something, never happens, want a 'cut' of your business. - Legal system undeveloped, lacking in transparency, commercial courts no well understood. - Many apps and services we take for granted don't operate in Africa.

Forget the elevated level of knowledge required to staff the front-office of a real factory. Even if you could, the concept of 'employment' and 'basic level of professionalism' is not widespread. Get people to show up consistently, get them to work together, plan complicated products, communicate with individuals in a variety of nations.

Bono started a clothing line to specifically have stuff made in Africa, but even that basic textile effort did not work.

The Chinese invest in African for minerals etc. they bring in their own workers (why do they do this if African wages are lower?).

Africa is mostly very underdeveloped right across the board in the terms we understand it. They're not at the level necessary to take on basic manufacturing. Their hope will be to develop natural resources in an intelligent way, like Botswana as a great example.

I think Vietnam, Philipenes, eventually Malaysia are more likely suited for electronics manufacturing, especially because it's going to be driven by Chinese leadership. Same for India: Foxconn maybe can pull it off, because they have expansive operational knowledge, there are educated people in India even if they can't fathom yet how to do that level of work and systems are not suited to it. India does very well in software - partly because it doesn't require expansive networks or an 'industrial base', it can grow up from 'small spots' of talent, with limited dependency on the environs. You can still have a 'great software shop' surrounded by corruption and degrees of dysfunction, you can't build electronics manufacturing base like this.

Here is some data on African manufacturing [1], notice it's fairly low level stuff: plastics, beverage, chemicals, food processing etc..

[1] https://set.odi.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Export-Based-...

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The CAA makes it easier for non-Muslims to claim citizenship while Muslims slip through the cracks; that is the point of contention. No it doesn't. Here's the relevant part of CAA( http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/214646.pdf ) that mentions non-Muslims > Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into…

Dude, you literally are spreading false information and you're literally quoting one thing on one line and contradicting it on the second line. CAA makes it easier for non Muslims. you say 'no it doesn't' and then you literaly cite this: > Provided that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before the 31…

> It leaves out MUSLIMS.

All those three countries in the context have Islam as their state religion. I would always welcome Muslim refugees in India but what was the point of partition if Muslims are suffering religious oppression in countries that were created as safe heavens for Muslims? Should we undo it?

And even recent searches show that minorities (the religions covered under the CAA) are not exactly doing better in those countries.

https://www.wionews.com/afghanistan/sikh-abducted-in-afghani...

https://theprint.in/opinion/letter-from-pakistan/pakistanis-...

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#79
post #2

If I were anyone relying on China right now I would diversify to other countries as fast as possible. Everyone should ask: what if I get cut off tomorrow? And have a strategy for that.

A lot of CXOs are waiting for the Biden win and hoping for storm to pass so to speak.

the "biden win" isn't coming, someone should let them know ;)

Re: Apple supplier Foxconn to invest $1B in India, sources say

#80
post #3

After their disaster in Wisconsin I'm going to wait till they actually spend the money before considering it newsworthy.

Unlike the US, Foxconn has functioning plants in India where they are already making iPhones and Nokia devices.

This investment is not a greenfield one like in the US. It's further investment in an already successful venture. So very few chances of a Wisconsin repeat.

Post reply on HN