'(Sales of) notebook computers are growing rapidly in India,' Ravi Swaminathan, vice-president of HP India Private Ltd told reporters at an event marking the rolling out the 500,000th computer from its facility in this technology hub of Bangalore.

'When you compare to other countries which have a desktop to notebook ratio of one notebook to every five to 10 desktops, India is lagging behind. It has only one notebook to 35 to 40 desktops,' Mr Swaminathan said.

He said the growth in the notebook segment was projected to grow by 60 per cent every year.

Currently about 25,000 notebook computers are sold in India each year.

'HP India has one-third of this market and we expect this to double during the next year,' Mr Swaminathan said. 'The demand is mainly from big corporations and the educational sector.'

The computer manufacturing facility in Bangalore has a capacity of 30,000 units every month.

'The cost of making a computer will be at least US$10 (S$17) less in India compared to other nations in Asia-Pacific. This has been achieved due to quality and reduction in the cost of overall resources,' said Balu Doraiswamy, president of the firm.

Mr Doraiswamy said HP India would expand the market by incorporating wireless products into the computers.

He said computer sales were seeing a 'revival' as the India manufacturing sector, especially the automobile sector, was looking up.

'Last year the growth in computers, both personal and high-end, was in single digits. This year it will be a double digit figure,' he said