Taiwanese businesses have offered to partner with Indian companies on a unique ‘Original brand manufacturer’ (OBM) model as part of its industrial collaboration with India.

Under this OBM model, Taiwanese companies are looking to set up manufacturing units in India and allow the partner Indian companies to put their brands on the products made in these facilities.

These products with Indian brands could then be marketed within India.

Taiwan is also open to the idea of providing marketing support to the Indian brand in other global markets.

This proposed initiative is also in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ announcement that invited foreign players to come to India and manufacture here.

A high-level 25-member Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Mission is currently visiting India to meet Indian industry and Government officials for this purpose.

Three areas—electronics, ship-building and textiles have been identified for the OBM initiative, Richard Leu, Deputy Director General, Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs, told Business Line here.

This industrial mission visited Gujarat on November 23 and met a senior Minister and officials of the Gujarat Government, said Leu, who is heading the delegation.

They had also visited the Sanand industrial park in Gujarat and came pleased about the facilities there. Indications are that a memorandum of understanding would be signed in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat programme, say Taiwanese officials who formed part of the mission.

Of the 25 member strong Industrial mission, as many as seven were from various economic Ministries of Taiwan and the rest were chief executives of companies representing electronics, ship building and textile sectors.

Taiwan is open to the idea of having ‘OBM’ tie-ups with Indian companies in other states as well, said David Hsu, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan.

In the second stage of industrial collaboration, Taiwan may also look at auto-components and solar cells for industrial collaboration, David, who is part of the industrial mission, indicated.

srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in