Haier Appliances (India), a subsidiary of the $9.2 billion Haier group, the world's second largest home appliances company, is planning to set up a manufacturing facility in India.

Pranay Dhabhai, director Haier India, said it was only a matter of time before Haier set up a manufacturing facility.

Prior to setting up the production centre, there were plans to set up assembling units and a research and development centre.

The centres would develop products specific to the needs of the Indian consumers. The group has 18 R&D centres across the globe and which, on an average, develop 1.3 products a day.

Dhabhai said India could be used as a production base for exports to Africa, south-east Asia and the Middle East.

Haier Appliances (India) recently launched its products in the eastern region. T K Banerjee, president and CEO, Haier India, said majority of the products would be manufactured locally through strategic partners, levering on Haier's global standards on design, quality control and product aesthetics.

Haier was thus far importing its high-end products so as to offer consumers a range of appliances and consumer electronics comprising refrigerators, colour televisions, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dish washers and DVD players.