RIM to set up plant in India

NEW DELHI, INDIA: BlackBerry smartphones-maker Research in Motion is likely to set up an Indian manufacturing facility in view of the potential within the country and the surrounding region and may develop the country into an export hub. RIM is evaluating investment opportunities in India, including in manufacturing and logistics, as it seeks to expand in the world's fastest-growing market for mobile phones, said reports.

"India is an important and strategic market for RIM and its exciting and fast-growing mobile sector offers major potential for further expansion. As part of RIM's strategy in India, the company has been building its resources in order to support the growing opportunities," RIM said in a statement.

With 771 million mobile subscribers at end-January, India is the world's second-biggest mobile phone market lagging only China. Indian mobile carriers signed up an average 19 million customers per month in 2010.

RIM's Chief Information Officer Robin Bienfait was in India to meet with major BlackBerry customers as well as current and prospective business partners, it said in a statement.

"Robin plans to further explore such (investment)possibilities in India during her visit," the company said in a statement.

RIM's statement comes at a time when it is being buffeted by demands from governments for access to secure BlackBerry communication. India has demanded access to all BlackBerry services as part of efforts to fight militancy and security threats over the Internet and through telephone communications.

The development comes when RIM is embroiled in a controversy over security concerns about BlackBerry operations in India. Since August last year, India has been seeking access to BlackBerry encrypted emails to counter threats to national security.

Later in January RIM gave India access to its consumer services including the Messenger services, but said it could not allow monitoring of its enterprise email.

(Wth inputs from Reuters)