Chennai: The Kolkata-based Texport Electronics Limited (marketers of AVI range of imported air conditioners) has plans to launch plasma television. According to managing director, Major Raj Sahai, the launch will take another year as the company is now focusing its energies on the AVI brand air conditioners.

Imported from China, the air conditioners are positioned at attractive price points. "It is not only the price that is attractive, even the product range is wide. We are the first to introduce a portable air conditioner. We have air conditioners ranging from 0.6-ton to 3.5- ton in the window / wall mounted split / floor standing / ceiling cassettes categories. In the ductables we can supply upto 17 ton."

Texport Electronics is an equal joint venture between Texport and Sangam Swiss SA, Switzerland.

According to Sahai, the retail Indian air conditioner market is expected to be around Rs1,820 crore this calendar year selling around 12.13 lakh units. The average price will be around Rs15,000 per unit.

"Since 2003 the market has been growing at a good pace. The orgainised industry sold 9.2 lakh units (Rs1,330 crore) at the retail level that year. In 2004 the numbers increased to 10.3 lakh units (Rs1,520 crore).

The company hopes to achieve a turnover of Rs40 crore in this fiscal selling around 40,000 units- the average realisation being Rs10,000. "Once we reach that volume we will be putting up an assembly line at the Falta Special Economic Zone were apart from air conditioners other electronic goods will be assembled." Texport Electronics also intends to export the air conditioners to nearby countries

Launching the product in five states - West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu- Texport Electronics will be indulge in below the line promotions like dealer incentives rather than aggressive media spend.