Satyam Computer Services has opened its first software development centre in Australia. Located in Sydney, the new facility was inaugurated by Joe Hockey, Australian minister for financial services & regulation.

Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju, has concurrently inaugurated Satyam’s dedicated Center for Excellence in Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence at the same venue.

Welcoming Satyam’s new initiative, Joe Hockey, said: “Satyam’s decision to invest in Sydney shows the faith in the continuing growth and maturity of the technology market in this country.

Moreover, it exemplifies Australia as an attractive investment destination. Australia has much to offer, including political stability, regulatory integrity and highly skilled workforce. Satyam’s decision underlines these factors.”

R S Rathore, Indian High Commissioner to Australia, said there was a major opportunity for collaboration between Australia and India in the field of information technology.

“The centre will help the company continue its growth in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. The decision to increase our presence in Australia recognises the strategic importance of this country and the considerable business opportunities.

We shall continue to invest in building competencies and strengthening customer relationships to achieve our objective of delivering solutions to customers’ business problems. Our alliances with more than 40 leading global technology firms enhance the bandwidth of services that we can offer our existing Australian clients and also provide us better access to new clients in this region,” Ramalinga Raju said.

Satyam began its business development in the Australian market in July 2000. The company now has more than 80 associates in Sydney and Melbourne.

Its customer base includes GE, the Commonwealth Bank, Ford Australia, NCR, eServ, Coles Myer, State Rail Authority of NSW, Primus, etc. Sydney is Satyam’s ninth offsite development center.

“Our Sydney development center now extends our reach and scope to customers in this region. We will be looking at winning business from the traditional outsourcing companies,” said Viren Aggarwal, Satyam’s Vice President, Asia-Pacific.