Nokia to Make Mobile Phones in Vietnam

In an official ceremony today, Nokia kicked off the development of its manufacturing facility in Vietnam to make mobile phones to be sold all over the world.

The event featured Secretary of the Central Party Committee, Vice President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Quan; Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam, Kimmo Lähdevirta; and other officials from Central authorities and Bac Ninh province amongst more than 200 others. Nokia made this announcement today, April 23.

Located in Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in Bac Ninh province, the Nokia Vietnam manufacturing facility is being developed on an area of 17 hectares. Nokia expects to start the operations of this factory in early 2013.

Meanwhile, Nokia has also planned to reduce its global workforce by about 4,000 employees by the end of 2012, with the majority of reductions in Denmark, Finland and the UK. (Read: Nokia to Lay Off 4,000 Workers to Cut Costs)

[ Also Read: Nokia’s Sales Head Colin Giles to Quit ]

“Thanks to the valued support from the Vietnamese government, our manufacturing program in Vietnam has been progressing well. The new Nokia manufacturing plant will produce and provide new devices for compelling and affordable, localized mobile experiences, particularly in the growth markets,” said Mary McDowell, executive VP, Mobile Phones, Nokia.

Nokia currently operates two representative offices in Vietnam: one in Ho Chi Minh City and the other in Hanoi. These offices carry out marketing and promotion activities for Nokia’s handset business.

In 2011, Nokia established a branch office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, increasing its footprint within the Indo-China region.

In November 2011, Nokia established a new company, Nokia (Vietnam) LLC, to build and operate the new Vietnam manufacturing facility.

Photo courtesy: Nokia