Foxconn Technology Group, Apple Inc.'s Chinese manufacturing partner, plans to expand the production capacity of its iPhone and iPad manufacturing plant in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

The Taiwan-based company will reportedly use the help of Zhengzhou's local government to double its current 10,000-employee staff at the plant next year.

Foxconn invested US$1.1 billion this year in its Zhengzhou plant, which currently produces about 200,000 iPhones every day.

The plant will become the world's largest smartphone production base after the projected expansion.

China's business press carried the story above on Tuesday.