Nokia to ramp up operations, to export more

Nokia, which shipped 25 million handsets from its Chennai handset plant last year, is readying itself for a bigger expansion that includes increase in exports and ramping up of its ecosystem at its special economic zone in Chennai.

"We are going to produce more handsets of more models in the Chennai plant. Currently, we export 30 to 35 per cent of the total production in Chennai to South East Asia, West Asia and Africa.

The exports are going to increase to 50 per cent this year," Jukka Lehtela, outgoing director, operations, Nokia India, said. Nokia, however, did not disclose how many units it is going to ship this year.

"We are also expanding our factory from the current floor space of 30,000 square metres to over 50,000

square metres to meet the burgeoning need of the Indian market, he added. Jukka will relocate to Finland on Monday and Sachin Saxena will take over as director, India Operations, of the Chennai factory.

Nokia, which has set up its 10th mobile manufacturing plant in Chennai a little over one year ago, is progressing ahead on its 4 year committed investment of $150 million.

The Nokia manufacturing unit completed its anniversary on Sunday.

Currently, 11 models are made in the Chennai factory. The Nokia telecom SEZ has eight suppliers of components. The component manufacturing will start by the middle of this year in the SEZ.