Keep pulling the thread on Alisha Sachdev.
Last year, India's largest company, Reliance Industries, sent hundreds of executives and engineers to China to secure critical equipment for a massive battery factory before new export controls were implemented.
China is implementing export controls on rare earth elements and related technologies to protect its established dominance in key manufacturing sectors.
Despite billions invested in the 'Make in India' initiative launched in 2014, India's manufacturing sector has become even more dependent on China.
China controls critical chokepoints in advanced manufacturing sectors like batteries and electronics, including the supply of raw materials, critical machinery, and technology know-how.
Reliance Industries is building a battery plant in Jamnagar, India, with a planned building area four times the size of the Tesla Gigafactory.
The entire supply chain for battery cells, from raw materials like lithium and cobalt to manufacturing equipment and technology, is predominantly based in China.
Indian companies have announced plans to build a combined 178 gigawatt-hours of advanced battery cell capacity over the next five years.
India now manufactures approximately 25% of Apple's iPhones globally.
India has rejected investment proposals from Chinese automotive companies BYD and Great Wall Motor due to strategic mistrust.
Despite securing over a billion dollars' worth of machinery from China, Reliance Industries is now struggling to acquire the necessary technological know-how to operate it.
The Reliance Industries renewable energy complex in Jamnagar is planned to produce solar panels, lithium-ion cells, energy storage batteries, green hydrogen, and fuel cells.
In October, China tightened export controls, requiring government approval for some lithium-ion batteries to be exported.