The Hindu Business Line : GE Healthcare may raise India headcount

Bangalore March 15 GE Healthcare says it is sharpening the focus on its life sciences business, driven largely by the growth in the domestic biotechnology sector. It may also ramp-up its overall India headcount well above the current 2,200 and bring out more products by encouraging Indian operations.

The Indian arm may see a "significant number" of engineers being recruited in the near future, said Mr Joseph Hogan, President and CEO of the $17-billion GE Healthcare, here on Thursday. He did not specify the numbers likely to be hired or the period.

India, according to him, is no longer viewed for cost arbitrage but for its vast pool of talented engineers. "Today India has the best talent and this is where we have to be," he said at a media interaction. According to Mr V. Raja, President and CEO for South Asia, it was only in 2006 that the company hired 500 more people and this could be an indication of what could come next.

GE's life sciences business is small but looks set for high growth. The company plans to introduce protein separators and chromatography systems in this segment. "We are looking to move more towards biotechnology and biosciences," Mr Hogan said.

Operating in a $450-million domestic market, the medical diagnostics leader is growing at 20 per cent or faster than the market rate of 15 per cent.

Product specifics

A new India-specific, India-made 1.5-kg portable ECG, MAC 400, targeted at physicians and rural practitioners, is all set to be launched. Mr Raja said two more diagnostic imaging products would be introduced this year. The parent now sources nearly 15 per cent of its products from India, compared to half of this five years back. The company has put in more than $100 million in the country since it began operations 17 years back.

The Indian operation has six business units, including Wipro GE Healthcare, GE Medical Systems India, GE BE Pvt Ltd (with public sector BEL) and GE Healthcare Life Sciences & Medical Diagnostics.

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