Infosys sets up JV in Saudi Arabia to tap local IT business

Firm lags behind Wipro and TCS in engaging with Saudi Kingdom, which is investing in infra and education to adapt to the knowledge economy

Infosys Ltd has become the latest Indian IT services company to set up a joint venture with a local company in Saudi Arabia to tap local customers in the Islamic Kingdom, which is using technology to transform itself from being a oil dependent company.

Infosys is investing $ 321,671 or Rs 2.12 crore for a 70 per cent stake in the JV with Saudi Prerogative Company (SPC) to tap local IT service business, the company said in a BSE filing.

The deal is subject to approval from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.

Infosys lags behind local rivals such as Wipro and Tata Consultancy Services in engaging with the Saudi Kingdom, which is investing in infrastructure and education to adapt to the knowledge economy. TCS has a strong local business in its all women back office centre in Saudi Arabia jointly with Saudi Aramco and GE, where it employs over 1,000 women doing back office work for the petroleum company.

The Kingdom is transforming itself from a largely oil driven economy to a site for technological disruption, and research and development.

Wipro has a presence in Saudi Arabia since 2002, serving customers such as Saudi Aramco and Saudi Telecom with software consultancy and building applications. In May, Wipro's local subsidiary, Saudi Aramco and Princess Nourah University (PNU) set up Saudi's first all women business and technology park. The project is expected to create nearly 21,000 jobs for Saudi women over a period of ten years.