CHENNAI: The Nokia factory at Sriperumbudur near here has been left like an “orphaned child” and the Centre is taking all steps to revive the mobile handset manufacturer’s plant, said Union Minister for Law & Justice and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday.
“We are on the job to make it operational.. the Nokia facility was left as an orphaned child.. I tried my best.. You know Microsoft took over Nokia but left the Nokia plant (due to double) taxing issue”, the Minister replied to a specific question during an interaction with the media.
The Finish firm had provided jobs to 8,000 people when the facility, which produced mobile phones was functioning at full capacity. The factory was left out of the USD 7.2 billion deal that was signed between Microsoft and Nokia in 2014.
“We are trying to work it out”, he said without elaborating further. “We (the government) are on the job.. We tried with one-two companies.. It did not work out…. Let me concretise and then disclose it to you.. But, we are on the job (to make it operational),” he replied, when persisted.
On the proposal by Apple Inc., to set up a manufacturing facility in the country, he said, the government is in talks with them. The Minister claimed that the number of mobile manufacturing factories in the country has increased to 108 from two that were operating earlier and about three lakh boys and girls are working directly and indirectly.
On his interaction with the core members of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) earlier, Mr. Prasad said the members have come out with suggestions on GST and that he would look into it. “I also explained to them (CII members) about bankruptcy code, to GST, RERA. I also told them how Moody’s rating has made India positive,” he informed.
