Cisco sets up Chennai plant to make routers, CEO Robbins 'most optimistic' about India

Cisco said the plant will produce a range of Cisco's routing and switching products, aimed for both domestic consumption as well as exports.

Telecom network equipment major Cisco has inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in India at Chennai, aiming to generate over $1.3 billion annually and creating 1,200 jobs in Tamil Nadu.

Cisco said the plant will produce a range of Cisco's routing and switching products, aimed for both domestic consumption as well as exports.

The manufacturing facility was inaugurated by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco. The plant will involve multi-year investment, has been set up in partnership with the Flex Group and will focus on routers to begin with.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Cisco's CEO Chuck Robbins said he has never been more optimistic about India, and sees the country as a key market and manufacturing here is the natural next step. Robbins also said Cisco has opened 3 data cloud solutions for India last year and has plans of further expansion.

"Significant innovation and technical advancements are planned in the next phase including printed circuit board assembly components with several layers; products requiring, at times, thousands of individual components; and industrial-grade products that are built to endure severe environmental conditions," Cisco said in a statement.