The Hindu Business Line : Samsung to finalise plans for 2nd plant by Diwali

The Korean diversified group Samsung Electronics is set to finalise plans for its second manufacturing base in India by Diwali, which could potentially see investment of up to $150 million like its existing plant in Noida.

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are being actively considered for the new plant, though no decision has been taken as on the location of its second base and its first manufacturing centre in the South.

The Deputy Managing Director of Samsung India, Mr R. Zutshi, said, "The company business has grown rapidly over the last five-six years and we feel the need for another plant in India. While the second plant would be located in one of these states, we are currently investing another $20 million in the Noida plant that would enhance the manufacturing capacity for colour monitors from 2.25 lakh to 5 lakh."

Aims for $2-m mark

"Last fiscal, the company recorded sales of Rs 6,300 crore and is poised to cross the $2-billion mark (Rs 9,000 crore) by 2008. We expect to grow this year by about 25 per cent, and with the addition of the new range of products, this could go up much faster," he explained.

Speaking after the launch of its new range of colour monitors, he said that the monitor industry is witness to a shift similar to the television industry.

While the curved TVs have paved way for flat panel ones, so is the case with monitors. Already about 62 per cent of the market is taking to TFT. "We expect this segment to grow by about 35 per cent this year, necessitating the expansion of the existing plant."

New launches

Complimenting the launch of its new range of monitors, Mr Zutshi said that it has launched a 19-inch-wide screen model, which has the advantage of viewing two pages at a time adjacent to each other, or even front and back of the same page.

To this collection of wide-screen monitors, the company expects to add two more models — 20- and 21-inch options — shortly.

Samsung brand ambassador, Rahul Dravid, unveiled the range here on Tuesday in the South, a market that accounts for over 20 per cent of the company's total sales.

The company is targeting highly intensive users in the business process outsourcing sector, broking community, those engaged in convergent applications and graphic designers, and gami

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