Information Technology Minister S R Patil on Friday directed the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keonics) to explore the possibility of assembling and marketing tablet devices on a large scale.

Patil, who assumed office of Keonics as president, told officials that the government undertaking should compete with its rivals in private sector by getting into manufacturing field again. The minister expressed his unhappiness over the style of functioning of Keonics. Referring to the inordinate delay in developing the proposed IT park in Belgaum, he said the planning as well as the tender process should begin immediately.

However, officials told the minister that Keonics has been earning a profit for the last 15 years. On average, the enterprise had been posting a profit of around Rs six crore, according to a press note.