Satyam Computer launches 3rd development centre in China

Satyam Computer Services Ltd launched its development centre in the Guangzhou Software Park in China on Wednesday - the third such centre. Currently, the 500-square metre facility, which is is designed to scale up to 1,000 employees by 2008-end, can house 100 employees.

Earlier this year, an agreement to this effect was signed in the presence of Zhang Guangning, mayor of Guangzhou, and B Rama Raju, co-founder and chief executive officer of the company. The centre will serve as a near shore set-up for the company's customers based out of Hong Kong and Japan.

"With the middle kingdom emerging crucial in our North American de-risking plan, we are exploring all possibilities to ramp up operations in China," said Virender Aggarwal, director and senior vice-president of Satyam's Asia Pacific and Middle East operations.

Talking to Business Standard from Tokyo, Aggarwal said that Satyam's revenues from Chinese operations were expected to cross $6 million this fiscal. The company had also shortlisted three tier II cities in China for opening more development centres.

Raghavendra Tripathi, Satyam's China country head, said, "Guangzhou will be an ideal nearshore location for our Hong Kong and Japanese clients who have invested in southern China, given the rich local resources and proximity. Support from the government has been very encouraging and we will be looking to further grow the team size to 1,000 by 2008-end."

Satyam's first development centre was set up in Shanghai in 2002 with a staff strength of 10 resources. This was further ramped up to the present strength of 400-plus associates. With a plan to increase the headcount to 3,000 associates and also set up two more nearshore centres in Dalian and Beijing, the company expects to have the biggest footprint in the region.