The Hindu Business Line : Wipro plans to open new centres in US

SILICON VALLEY: Wipro plans to open several software development and IT facilities in the United States. In addition to a software development centre to be opened in Atlanta within the next three months, India's third-biggest software maker is consideri ng opening three new US facilities, says Mr Sridhar Ramasubbu, Wipro CFO for Americas and Europe.

Speaking to InformationWeek, Mr Ramasubbu said Wipro is considering Raleigh in North Carolina, Austin in Texas and Richmond in Virginia as the locations for these facilities, which could open as early as next year. However, the company first wants to se e 'how it goes' when its Atlanta centre opens by the year's end, he said, adding Wipro expects within three years to have about 1,000 American workers based at the centre.

Mr Ramasubbu said the three new centres would likely offer software development and other IT services, including hardware design and business process outsourcing.

Earlier this week Wipro announced it would buy the US-based outsourcing firm, Infocrossing, for $600 million in one of the biggest acquisitions by an Indian IT company.

To address the cost issues involved with hiring US employees, the plan is for Wipro to recruit people with associate degrees, hire and train them, allow them to 'earn while you learn' Wipro software development processes, Mr Ramasubbu said.

Hiring staff with associate degrees is cheaper than recruiting engineers with four-year or grad degrees, he said. "We're looking for ways to optimize" the investment in talent and expansion in the US, he said. - PTI

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