Home-grown computer manufacturer HCL Infosystems on Thursday said the company will expand its presence in West Asia and Africa, especially for products like tablet computers over the next one year.
As of now, the company is present in South Africa. Now it wants to expand its operations to around 12 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Egypt. In West Asia, it is keen to spread its wings to Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. At present, it has operations only in Dubai.
Low-cost tablets
HCL Inofsystems that sells products between Rs 7,000 and Rs 60,000 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, told
He said it is a win-win situation and the company is participating in other projects such as the initiatives undertaken by different States.
“For example, we will participate in projects for Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Gujarat. We have already won the bid to supply to Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) project, and we are soon going to meet the demand of two lakh laptops,” Bhatnagar said. The company also said with the Government starting with implementation of National Electronic Policy, it would be one of the first companies to start manufacturing other products in India. It only manufacturers desktop computers here right now.
“You have to have 30 per cent of end-to-end manufacturing as localised and we are hoping that the Government will come up with this Policy in the coming Budget and pass it quickly enough. Our management has been promoting local manufacturing and we will stick to it,” he said.
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 Rs 37.80 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down by 0.53 per cent from the previous close.