Opple starts operations in India with first experience store in Chennai.

The $600 million Chinese lighting company Opple Lighting has begun its operations in India by opening an exclusive retail store in Chennai in tie-up with a distributor.

The company has set a target of achieving Rs. 450 crore revenue in the next five years, besides appointing 30 distributors in the country by 2015-end. It also has plans to set up an assembling facility in the country.

Opple Lighting India country head Naveen Saxena said Opple is the first lighting company from China to enter the Indian market. He said the the company's LED product range was being priced at 15-20 per cent less in the domestic market.

'We see a huge opportunity in India and our immediate focus will be the top 30 cities,' said Saxena, and added, the company had set a target to establish 5,000 points of sale by 2015-end. Globally, Opple operates through the distribution-and-stockist model.

Shanghai-headquartered Opple Lighting has operations in more than 50 countries globally.

BS