ALINK Technologies has announced it is diversifying its product line to include Television (TV) assembling in order to redeem its declining mobile phone sales. The Chinese firm, which assembles mobile phone handsets in Rwanda, said the Rwandan market is flooded with cheap handsets almost similar to what the company produces. “Telecom operators avail cheap phones on promotion, something that makes it hard for us to compete even when we add more features to our phones. We are now producing little in intervals depending on the market,” Edward Yin, President of ALINK said in an interview on Tuesday. The firm started operations in Rwanda last year with interest in regional export markets in the short period. With an initial investment of $0.5 million (Rwf283.7 million), ALINK says it has been producing 200 handsets daily but inconsistent demand has forced it to output by 50 percent. Management said in order to maintain its compositeness they are planning to venture into television (TV). Yin said that the project was part of their initial investment plan.He revealed that the components are expected in Rwanda within this week and assembling will start immediately. “We have trained a few Rwandans on how to assemble, though the technology is a bit similar. The TVs will be flat screens ranging from 34-47 inches,” he observed. Government in the 2009/10 budget slashed the import duty on phone handsets to Zero percent from 18 percent and Yin sees it as a big challenge. A-Link Technologies was behind the development of the mobile phone programmed in Kinyarwanda branded ‘Alira’. The brand name was earlier this year changed to ‘A-link’. Few months back, the company also ventured into assembling of laptops. As the East African Community (EAC) braces for the Common Market, the company affiliated to China link, Digital and Technology Company Limited plans to export its products to other regional countries. Ends
