Nokia headcount in India up 12-fold

Helsinki: Cellular phone giant Nokia has increased its headcount in India by over 12-fold to 5,500 now from just 450 two years back, complementing launch of its manufacturing facility in Chennai early this year.

"We have increased our personnel strength significantly. In manufacturing facility alone, there are about 3,500 people working. Overall 5,500 people are on payroll of Nokia," Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO of Nokia, told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Nokia achieved an important milestone as it produced 10 million mobile phones from its facility in Chennai in the first week of August within eight months of its operations, he said.

Asked about the experience so far since setting up the manufacturing plant in Chennai, Olli-Pekka gave all credit to the state government and the Centre for providing all necessary support.

"We broke ground in June 2005 and the first Made in India mobile phone came out in January 2006. This is a record," he said, adding, "India is a place to look at when it comes to even hardware manufacturing".

"When we look at quality of personnel, we are extremely happy," he said. It is good that potential for hardware manufacturing, and not only software, is also great in India, he added.

Nokia had announced 150 million dollar investment for its manufacturing facility and it has already taken place.

Asked about further investments, Olli-Pekka said, "If and when we plan to expand, we shall invest further".

Olli-Pekka said that mobile phones from the Chennai facility are for both local and overseas markets.

"Phones made in Chennai are not only for local market but for export also to generate export revenue to India and it is substantial," he said.

Asked about Nokia's strategy in the years to come especially with regard to rural India, the Nokia Chief categorically said, "We believe in global scale of operations with local business".

"Made in India, Made for India is what we believe in," he said, adding, "We have decided to produce India specific phones to meet requirements of people here".