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"We're Moving to Shanghai!"
[August 04, 2005]

"We're Moving to Shanghai!"


By DAVID R. BUTCHER, Assistant Editor, Customer Interaction Solutions

... Or so goes the Ed Harcourt song. And now, so too does Infosys Technologies Ltd.

Infosys, a provider of IT-enabled business solutions, has announced the signing of an agreement to set up software development centers in China. The company's China subsidiary, Infosys Technologies (Shanghai) Company Ltd. (aka ITSCo), today signed letters of intent with both Shanghai Zhangjiang (Group) Company Ltd. and [pause for preparatory breath] the Administrative Commission of Hangzhou Hi-Tech Development Industry Zone-Hangzhou to set up software development centers in Shanghai and Hangzhou.



The new centers in the two China locations will see a total investment of $65 million in the next five years, and it will accommodate 6,000 engineers. Infosys currently has 250 employees in China.

James Lin, CEO & Managing Director, Infosys Technologies (Shanghai) Company Ltd., said that the new centers will undertake projects in software development, IT services and IT-enabled services. He further noted in a company announcement that the new centers "will also act as one of the training and research centers of the company."


The Shanghai center, to be built on 25,000 sq. meters (i.e., 30,000 sq. yards) of land, will get an initial investment of $10 million in the next two years. On the Hangzhou project, Infosys plans to invest $15 million for a 100,000 sq. meter (i.e., 120,000 sq. yard) center in the next two years.

"Infosys Hangzhou campus is the first large investment project by a global software company in the Hangzhou Hi-Tech Zone," according to Hong Hangyong, Secretary, CCP of Administrative Commission of Hangzhou Hi-Tech Industry Development Zone. "This is a proof of the IT-friendly policies rolled out by the government in attracting world-class organizations. Investment by a global leader such as Infosys will enhance Hangzhou's attempts at building an IT [center] in this beautiful city which is also a science and technology [center]. It will also start a new chapter in the development of the software industry in the Zhejiang province."

The projects are expected to begin by January 2006. As well, they will have state-of-the-art technological infrastructure for software services and recreational facilities for employees, similar to other development centers of Infosys.

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David R. Butcher is Assistant Editor of Customer Interaction Solutions. To see more articles by David Butcher, please visit:

http://www.tmcnet.com/tmcnet/columnists/columnist.aspx?id=100008&nm=David%20
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