Nokia on Wednesday announced an investment of $75 million at its manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur, Chennai for 2008.

According to a release issued by Nokia, the investment is geared towards enhancing the capacity of the manufacturing plant. The plant currently employs approximately 6,000 people.

Nokia has so far invested $210 million in its Chennai operations. Today's investment announcement is an addition to this figure, the release added.

Nokia started manufacturing from Sriperumbudur in January 2006, and has achieved the distinction of the fastest ramp up by any Nokia factory worldwide.

Approximately 50% of the production from the plant is consumed domestically and the rest is exported to countries across Middle East and Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

"It is a moment of great pride for all of us at Nokia as the India plant sets another benchmark of achieving the fastest ramp up across all Nokia facilities worldwide. This is a testimony of operational efficiencies achieved through people, processes, global best practices and standards," said Sachin Saxena, director (operations), Nokia India.  "Chennai has proved to be an ideal location for our manufacturing plant, and we are proud of our partnership here," he added.