Chennai, Nov 13: Electronics major Samsung India Electronics today announced launch of its second manufacturing facility in India with an initial investment of US Dollar 30 million.

Talking to reporters ahead of the launch of the facility at Sriperumbudur SEZ by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Deputy Managing Director R Zutshi said the state-of-the-art plant, which would become a global manufacturing hub for Samsung operations, would have a production capacity of 1.5 million units per annum of Flat TVs and 0.3 million units of LCD TVs.

He said 21 inches and 29 inches Flat and Ultra Slim models as well as LCD models in the screen size between 19 to 32 inches would be manufactured in the new 20-acre facility where the investment would be scaled up to US Dollar 100 million over a four year period.

Mr Zutshi said the colour TVs manufactured here would also be exported to SAARC countries and would significantly contribute to export revenue from next year.

This year the export revenue was Rs 200 crore.

To a question, he said the Chennai facility would also start manufacturing home appliances like fully automated washing machines from next year.

However the installed capacity would be decided by the end of this year.

On choosing Chennai for setting up its second plant after the one in Noida, Samsung President and CEO South WEst Regional Head H B LEE said there was a growing demand for Samsung products in the South, which contributes significantly (about 35 per cent) to total India's sale of electronic products.

''The contribution from South is getting bigger and bigger.

Besides the industry-friendly relations of the Tamil Nadu government encouraged Samsung to set up its plant in Chennai'', he added.


UNI