We're starting manufacturing of networking equipment: Cisco's Chittilapilly

We have announced plans to start manufacturing in Chennai because our subcontractors have a presence there, said Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India and SAARC

Recently, networking major Cisco said it is making significant investments in manufacturing capabilities in India with an aim to drive over $1 billion in combined exports and domestic production over the next few years. Daisy Chittilapilly, president, Cisco India and SAARC, talks about the reasons behind Cisco’s manufacturing push and its focus on generative artificial intelligence (AI), in a face-to-face interview with Ayushman Baruah in Bengaluru. Edited excerpts:

Why is Cisco investing big in manufacturing now?

At Cisco, we are always looking at the agility and resilience of our supply chain. So, that is a constant process, and obviously Covid