NEW DELHI: Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia said that it is already aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, having brought in $1 billion foreign exchange in last fiscal to India through its products and services meant for global markets. The company is also evaluating local manufacturing for both domestic and global markets.
“This is separate from India business. The earnings have come through exports from the factory, services export from GNOCs which support 125 customers, and our R&D centers that are creating software products. All put together it is $1 billion for India annually, basically creating value for exchequers,” Nokia senior vice president and Head of India, Sanjay Malik, told ET.
The company has created a strong ecosystem for start-ups and MSMEs for its R&D centers and local manufacturing.
“There are about 15 to 20 MSMEs which we are supporting through our factory. Not everything is getting imported in terms of components. Similarly in R&D Center, we have brought in about 30 startups and are supporting them,” Malik said. “We are not just creating products in India, but also create jobs and the entire ecosystem…we are giving back to the country and to the exchequer.”
Nokia is now ramping up 5G exports from the factory and is also evaluating optics and transport gear manufacturing, having invested Rs 600 crore towards the factory to date.
Nokia’s Chennai factory produced telecom gear worth Rs 3000 crore in last fiscal, half of which was meant for exports. It exports older-gen products and 5G products to mature markets like the US, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.
“For supporting expansion or exports from India, we will do whatever is required, provided quality and cost is available here…100% local sourcing for manufacturing is possible only when 100% of components are available. It has to be a step by step approach,” Malik said. “We welcome this Aatmanirbhar Bharat…we will be much more willing to support it.”
Speaking on the AGR issue in India’s telecom sector, Malik said that there was certainly stress but the focus has now come back on the business growth. “Telcos are focusing on core issues like business and how to meet consumer growth. We think the AGR issue will be resolved soon.” Source
“This is separate from India business. The earnings have come through exports from the factory, services export from GNOCs which support 125 customers, and our R&D centers that are creating software products. All put together it is $1 billion for India annually, basically creating value for exchequers,” Nokia senior vice president and Head of India, Sanjay Malik, told ET.
The company has created a strong ecosystem for start-ups and MSMEs for its R&D centers and local manufacturing.
“There are about 15 to 20 MSMEs which we are supporting through our factory. Not everything is getting imported in terms of components. Similarly in R&D Center, we have brought in about 30 startups and are supporting them,” Malik said. “We are not just creating products in India, but also create jobs and the entire ecosystem…we are giving back to the country and to the exchequer.”
Nokia is now ramping up 5G exports from the factory and is also evaluating optics and transport gear manufacturing, having invested Rs 600 crore towards the factory to date.
Nokia’s Chennai factory produced telecom gear worth Rs 3000 crore in last fiscal, half of which was meant for exports. It exports older-gen products and 5G products to mature markets like the US, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.
“For supporting expansion or exports from India, we will do whatever is required, provided quality and cost is available here…100% local sourcing for manufacturing is possible only when 100% of components are available. It has to be a step by step approach,” Malik said. “We welcome this Aatmanirbhar Bharat…we will be much more willing to support it.”
Speaking on the AGR issue in India’s telecom sector, Malik said that there was certainly stress but the focus has now come back on the business growth. “Telcos are focusing on core issues like business and how to meet consumer growth. We think the AGR issue will be resolved soon.” Source
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