This Indian company could soon be taking over Nokia's Tamil Nadu plant

There is some light at the end of the tunnel for Nokia's mobile phone manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur near Chennai, with Essar Group considering taking over the plant.

"I was at the Nokia facility, and we are still evaluating it," said Shashi Ruia, founder and chairman, Essar Group. "I was there the day the plant was shut down and employees were sent home. About 80% of them were women who have cleared 12th standard and now they don't have jobs. But the potential is huge for semi-skilled workers. We have trained such people for BPOs and it takes about six weeks to train operators," he said.

Ruia was speaking at an event held by the Rotary Club of Madras East to confer upon him the "Global Indian Award". He refused to give details on what the plant would be taken over for, or when the transaction could happen, but mentioned that the Essar Group isn't particularly waiting for any assistance from the Tamil Nadu government for this transaction.

The plant, once the world's single-largest mobile phone manufacturing unit, has been lying idle since November 1, 2014 when the company suspend manufacturing phones at the unit. The shutdown left over 30,000 people jobless.