Aztec plans Rs 40 cr centre in Hinjawadi

Bangalore-based Aztec Software plans to invest around Rs 40 crore for setting up a 1,500-seat centre at Hinjawadi in Pune. The new facility of the technology specialist in middleware and systems integration is expected to be operational within a year.

"We are setting up the new facility on the premises of our subsidiary, Disha Technologies, and it should be operational in a year. Initially, we will move some of our employees from other locations to Pune and will start recruiting locals soon," said V Chandrasekhar, chief executive officer, Aztec. He did not disclose the number of persons to be recruited for the facility.

Aztec had acquired Disha Technologies, an independent testing and quality assurance firm based in the Rajiv Gandhi Software Technology Park of India, last November.

Aztec, which functions from four locations in Karnataka and one each in the US and UK, will use its Pune facility to cater to its existing businesses and new clients.

The company would continue to focus on middleware and integration, data management, security and mobile applications, apart from application development, integration and maintenance, porting, product engineering, testing and professional services.

According to Chandrasekhar, the acquisition of Disha and availability of technological talent pool have spurred it to set up the Pune operations.

With the city being a defence sector base, there "exist a good business potential", he added.It will also recruit an additional 150-200 employees in the current quarter, similar to the increase in headcount for its overall operations in the country.

Meanwhile, the company is also planning to tap the wireless networking and embedded devices technologies. These are emerging sectors and would result in complimenting the company's existing product line.