Samsung says India is central to its global engineering stack. CEO Jong Bum Park says core smartphone engineering—38% of Samsung’s $219 bn FY24 revenue—is developed and engineered in India, with flagship camera systems and Galaxy A series led by Bengaluru R&D.

India and Russia are pushing JVs in critical minerals & rare earths post the Dec summit. Russia holds the 5th-largest REE reserves, with 658 mn tonnes across 29 rare metals. Driver: EVs, wind, tech supply chains. Implication: India hedges China risk via upstream access.

Apple is rumored to be in early talks with Murugappa Group’s CG Semi to assemble/package iPhone chips in India—its first serious OSAT evaluation here. CG Semi’s ₹7,600-cr Sanand plant (0.5 mn units/day) could start production in 2026, nudging India up Apple’s value chain.