Nokia for expansion of Chennai plant

New Delhi, Dec 5: Finland-based Nokia today said it will invest 75 million dollars into the capacity expansion of its Chennai manufacturing plant by next year to cater to the burgeoning demand of the Indian and other emerging markets.

Apart from this investment, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones has so far invested cumulatively invested 210 million dollars in its Chennai plant which employs about 6,000 people.

Currently, about 50 per cent of the production from the plant, started in January last year, is consumed domestically and the rest is exported to countries across the West Asia, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

''The decision to make additional investment in the plant is a reflection of Nokia's commitment to the Indian mobile communications industry and of the increasing demand for mobile devices from Asia, the West Asia and Africa,'' said Mr Raimo Puntala, Senior Vice President, Operations and Logistics, Nokia.

He added that Nokia will continuously strengthen its manufacturing network to drive greater agility within the business and increase its competitiveness.

UNI