KOLKATA: Kolkata-headquartered budget smartphone maker Hitech Cellphone (HCPL) is looking to achieve a turnover of Rs 500 crore by the end of next fiscal 2015-16 as opposed to Rs 200 crore reported last fiscal, eyeing more than 100 per cent growth.
The company, which began mobile accessories business in Kolkata and grew to become a phone brand, is mulling setting up an assembling unit in West Bengal at an investment of Rs 30 crore. The idea of setting up an assembling unit here comes on the back of “uncertainty on import duty.”
“Our present revenues are Rs 250 crore of which mobile phone sales account for Rs 200 crore and the rest comes from accessories. We are bullish about the growth prospects and aims to become a Rs 500 crore company in the coming fiscal,” said HCPL managing director Mohammed Gyasuddin.
Hitech has expanded its product lines and reach, grew its revenue and market share as well.
HCPL at present is working on importing cellphones from Shenzhen, China. It procures products from original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) and original device manufacturers (ODMs). “We sell around 20 lakh phones in the domestic market every month,” informed Gyasuddin.
“We export to Nepal and Bhutan and we are planning to expand it to Bangladesh as well as Sri Lanka,” he said.
Talking about the increased import duty, he said, “Previously, the import duty was two per cent and it went up to seven per cent. Now, we don’t know if it’ll shoot up more. In that case, we will assemble the phone here (in India) and we may either opt for West Bengal or Himachal Pradesh to set-up the final assembly plant.”
When being asked about the markets they are betting on for growth, Gyasuddin said that the company is expecting major growth from upcountry areas in Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan among other markets.
The company further said that the brand Hitech has a strong presence in rural and urban market. “Our monthly sales growth in rural and urban population is around 30 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Moreover, our products are recognized all over India through our e-commerce and channel distribution partners,” he said.
