Nokia to increase sales in India, emerging markets

Hyderabad, Nov 7 (UNI) Nokia will increase its mobile phone sales in India and other emerging markets from two billion in 2005 to three billion by 2008.

Nokia Strategic Marketing in New Growth Markets Head Anne Larilahti, speaking at a plenary session at the second Global Forum on Business Incubation 'ICT, Innovation and Enterpreneurship in Practice, Perspectives from Entrepreneurs and Industry leaders', said as much as 80 per cent of growth was expected from emerging markets including India and China.

Emerging markets continued to enjoy excellent growth this year and her company was working with operators to bring down the cost of mobile services further, she said.

Nokia was targeting low income group people in the price-conscious emerging markets, who could provide business of just three dollars per month.

She said the company was working on arrangements with microfinance firms for handsets.

On the benefits of mobile phones, she said ten mobile phones per 100 people boosted the GDP growth of a country by 0.6 points. At the micro-level, individual's productivity improved with increased information access and avoidance of unnecessary travel.

UNI SM AJ 1557