The Hindu Business Line : HSBC opens service centre in Kolkata

(From left) Mr Niall Booker, CEO, HSBC India, Dr Andrew Hall, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata, Sir Michael Arthur, British High Commissioner to India, Mr Alan Jebson, Group COO, HSBC Holdings Plc, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Rob Muth, Head of HSBC Global Resourcing, and Mr Manabendra Mukherjee, West Bengal Minister of Information Technology, at the opening of HSBC's 5th group service centre in Kolkata on Tuesday. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , Nov. 22

HSBC has identified global resourcing as a major component of its international strategy in which India already plays a key role.

The company, which on Tuesday opened another group service centre in Kolkata (the fifth in the country), expects to employ about 3,000 people at the new facility.

HSBC operates similar centres in Hyderabad and Bangalore which together employ about 10,000 people. Similar centres also exist in China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

The new `partnership', according to Sir Michael Arthur, British High Commissioner in India, goes beyond mere trade and investment. "With India on its way to self-sufficiency and a more open economy, Britain is keen on expanding and consolidating bilateral ties," he said.

The UK is the third largest investor in India, after the US and Mauritius, it was pointed out. Incidentally, its share of investment approvals since 1991 covers nearly 2,500 joint ventures. There is a "strong" two-way flow of investment — last year 36 new Indian projects made their way to the UK.

Bilateral ties between the two countries now cover development issues as well as those pertaining to health, education and heritage. West Bengal recently launched a health systems development initiative supported by the Department for International Development with grants up to £100 million.

The State, which is also flagging off a rural decentralisation plan (DFID is expected to contribute up to £130 million), proposes to focus on the IT and ITES sectors in a big way, to help create employment opportunities in the near future.

HSBC also handed over Rs 1 lakh to SOS Children's Village, which provides shelter and education to destitute children and women.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page