ESPOO, FINLAND: Nokia has emerged as the Most Trusted Brand in India in the annual survey undertaken by Brand Equity of The Economic Times, India's largest and the world's second most read financial daily.

Nokia was ranked 71 in 2005, when it first made an appearance in the Brand Equity Most Trusted Brand survey. Since then, the company has consistently gained ground - from No. 44 in 2006 to No. 4 in 2007, and finally to No. 1 in 2008.

Commenting on the achievement, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, President and CEO, Nokia Corp.. said: "We are humbled by the trust and faith that our consumers have shown in Nokia. Becoming the Number 1 Most Trusted Brand in India is a very prestigious achievement for us. India has been a critical market for a long time now, and its importance continues to grow"

D. Shivakumar, Vice President and Managing Director of Nokia India, added: "It is a very momentous occasion for us to be adjudged the Number 1 Most Trusted Brand in India. This recognition fills us with pride as well as a great sense of responsibility, for this is a giant leap of trust for us.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate our consumers, partners and colleagues, both in India and across the globe, for their passion and commitment that has helped us make this meaningful mark in the country."

India is the second largest market for Nokia globally. The company has a manufacturing facility in Chennai, three R&D facilities, and a design centre in Bangalore, keeping Nokia in step with the growing needs of emerging markets.

The Brand Equity survey was conducted by leading market research agency AC Nielsen ORG-MARG, and is the largest of its kind in India. The survey interviewed more than 8,000 respondents across 12 cities in the West, East, North and South zones of India. The sample is spread across socio-economic class, age and income groups, covering consumers aged 15 and older. The list consisted of 300 brands (219 consumer products and 81 service brands).