Indian technology firm eyes local market

Indian computer manufacturer HCL Infosystems on Thursday said it will extend its operations to Rwanda as well as several other African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Egypt, especially for products like tablet computers over the next one year. In Africa, as of now, the company is present in South Africa.In West Asia, the comany is keen to spread its wings to Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. At present, it has operations only in Dubai. HCL Infosystems Ltd, a listed subsidiary of HCL, is an India-based hardware and systems integrator with a focus on emerging markets. It has a presence in 170 cities and 505 points of presence reaching 4000 towns throughout India and operations in emerging markets including South Asia, Middle East and Africa. It has a strong distribution network of 93,000 outlets in over 9,000 towns in India. The firm’s manufacturing facilities are based in Chennai, Pondicherry and Uttarakhand. It is headquartered at Noida. HCL Inofsystems, which sells products between US$128 and US$1,093, also said though it would not be able to manufacture low-cost tablets (like Aakash) for at least the next two years, it will seek opportunity from the next-level buyers. “What the Government is doing right now is good for the whole tablet market, as when customers use such products, their next upgrade is for products which we are making — better brand, better product and better service network — so it is an opportunity for us,” Princy Bhatnagar, Vice-President – Computing Division, HCL Infosystems said. He said it is a win-win situation and the company is participating in other projects such as the initiatives undertaken by different States. However, he said the company is excluding tablets as of now, but will manufacture as and when needed. “We are also trying to bring our global partners to set up their systems here so that they can run their manufacturing and supply raw materials to us. We are the proponent of local manufacturing here as it will not only create an industry, but also jobs for many people,” he added. HCL Infosystems’ shares on Thursday closed at US$0.68 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down by 0.53 per cent from the previous close.

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Indian technology firm eyes local market