Datawind, a low-cost manufacturer of tablets and smart phones, is planning to set up three units in the country, one of them preferably in the new Andhra Pradesh, according to the company President and CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli.

He told reporters here on Wednesday that his company had responded positively to the 'Make in India' campaign of the Modi Government and the Union Government had also made it easier for companies by modifying the tax structure.

"Now, it really makes sense to manufacture tablets and smart phones in India and we have decided to set up three units in the country. One of them we want to locate in Andhra Pradesh, either near Vijayawada or Visakhapatnam, and we will take up the issue with the State Government," he said.

Tuli praised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu, as "a progressive CM, and tech-savvy leader responsive to the needs of the IT industry''.

He said his company was the market leader in the below Rs 5,000 segment of the tablet market in the country, with a market share of 55 per cent.

"We have also forayed into the smart phone market of late. We are offering smart phones in the range of Rs 2,000-2,500 with free Internet access for one year. We have tied up with Reliance for the purpose. There is a great response to our smart phone models," he said.

He said the small-scale manufacturers in China were making use of the Internet to market their products and services in a big way and "we want their counterparts to do the same. That is why we are taking the Net to ordinary people through the smart phone. We are bridging the digital divide in our own small way."

Tuli said his company was one of the sponsors for the Hyderabad Sunrisers team in the current IPL cricket competition.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW