Wipro to open development centre in Australia

BANGALORE - Global software major Wipro Ltd will boost its presence in Australia by opening a 150-seat software development centre at Melbourne this December, the IT bellwether said Wednesday.

Announcing the decision on the occasion of Victoria premier John Brumbys visit to the companys corporate headquarters in this tech hub, Wipro chairman Azim Premji said the Victorian operations would strengthen the companys Australia delivery capabilities and boost its presence in the country.

Victoria accounts for about 50 percent of our business in Australia, with some of our large clients based there. We have a close working relationship with the Victorian government, Premji told Brumby on the occasion.

Wipro has about 800 employees working for Australian clients. The IT giant recently launched the Australian scholarship programme, as part of the graduate recruitment programme in collaboration with the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Foundation.

Victoria also offers many world-class universities and large numbers of highly skilled ICT graduates. Such a combination of support and talent is what we look for in a strategic business location, Premji noted.

Welcoming Wipro to his province, Brumby said the IT bellwether was in talks with some Victorian universities for internships, skill development and joint projects.

Wipros Melbourne operations will play an integral role in its expansion in Australia. The decision to base one of its centres in Melbourne is testament to our governments focus on innovation and the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, Brumby said.

The company plans to hire about 100 local engineers for the centre in the next 12 months to provide integrated business, technology and process solutions to clients there.

Victoria accounts for a third of Australias ICT enrolments to create skills required by global firms like Wipro, Brumby added.

With the second largest population (five million) in Australia, Victoria is one of the worlds greatest migration success stories. About 70 percent of Victorians live in the states capital Melbourne. The province contributes about 25 percent to the countrys economy.

Wipros leading rival Infosys Technologies Ltd also operates a subsidiary in Australia.

Earlier, interacting with members of the Association of Biotechnology-led Enterprise (ABLE) and the National Association of Software and Services Company (Nasscom) here, Brumby said his province was an attractive destination for trade and investment.

Indian firms should invest in Victoria taking advantage of innovation, biotechnology and ICT, the premier added.