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Nilanjan Dey

Kolkata , July 25

AKSH Optifibre Ltd, which manufacturers cables and cable accessories, has started to tap opportunities emerging in select African countries, including Senegal.

The company plans to cater to the demand for turnkey optical fibre cable and broadband solutions in these nations, many of which are trying to introduce telecommunication reforms. Sizeable orders are estimated to flow in from these countries in the future.

Dr Kailash Choudhari, Managing Director, indicated that the company was now looking at overseas markets more actively and expected to record a higher export turnover this fiscal. Cross-border operations are likely to boost the overall growth in the coming months, leading to a decent increase in its topline. Exports constituted about 10 per cent of the turnover last year. Senegal and a few other West African nations are said to have emerged as promising destinations for the company. It has been exploring some of these markets (which are known to be far behind in terms of broadband resources etc) for the past few months.

It may be mentioned here that the company's export turnover has been increasing progressively in the past couple of years.

Forex earnings through exports in 2003-04 at Rs 8.04 crore recorded a 30-per cent increase over the previous year.

Nearer home, the company was trying to create capacity in certain segments, for which board approval would be required, Dr Choudhari observed, adding that a few new products were being worked out to meet specific requirements of users.

Incidentally, among its new products is an aerial cable - Droplite - billed as an easy-to-lay cable that can be used for Internet services, computer networking and telephony.

"Market conditions for us are improving. Cable manufacturers are witnessing a growth in volumes and there is greater net sales realisation," he said.

He also referred to an order recently placed by the Andhra Pradesh Government for a broadband project.

The order, valued at over Rs 90 crore, relates to the delivery of optical fibre cable for the project. Aksh Optifibre is trying to secure similar mandates from other State Government-sponsored programmes.

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