According to company sources, Nokia's handset plant at Sriperumbudur in India has begun exporting value-line and mid-range products to countries in Southeast Asia. Nokia will also start exporting phones to West Asia and Africa in the near future. The facility, 50 kilometers west of Chennai, is expected to employ more than 3,000 people and reach maximum production capacity next year.

Other companies expected to set up plants near Nokia's facility at Sriperumbudur, called Nokia Telecom Industry Park, include Taiwanese Foxconn. Several other suppliers are also in talks to come to the park, including Perlos, PCB-maker Aspocomp, and Salcomp, a maker of handset battery chargers.