Infosys plans to expand in Northern region

Having already employed 5,700 odd employees at its Chandigarh facility, Infosys Ltd is looking to further expand in the Northern region.

This was announced by S Gopalakrishnan, vice president, CII and executive co-chairman, Infosys Ltd, in an interaction with Business Standard in Chandigarh. However, he refused to give the details of location and proposed manpower expansion.

Gopalakrishnan was in the city to address CEO series organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to share his vision and experiences on ‘Making of a Global Enterprise’ with the participants.

Speaking to Business Standard, Gopalakrishnan said, “We had a very good experience in Chandigarh as within a short span of four years we have grown from zero to 5,700 employees. Considering growth and availability of right kind of talent in the Northern region, we are further planning to expand. We are contemplating various options and keen to expand in this part of the country.”

Tere is land constraint in Chandigarh, so the company may look at expanding in other parts of the Northern region.

Earlier, senior functionaries of the Punjab government including chief secretary and principal secretary met Gopalakrishnan and requested him to consider Punjab as a possible option for expansion. According to sources, the senior functionaries apprised him that the state government can offer land to the company at IT city Mohali, Ropar and Kapurthala in Punjab. They also informed him about the incentives offered by the state to the IT companies according to the Industrial Policy of the state government.

On being asked about the IT growth projection in the current financial year, he added, “The IT industry is likely to grow at 16 per cent in the current financial year and Infosys would grow by 19 per cent in this financial year.'

On being asked about the Indian IT sector, he added, “Standing at $17 billion, the Indian IT market is underinvested as compared to more than a trillion dollar global market. With global IT dragging at a growth of three to four per cent only, Indian IT markets are smoothing at an ease of 20 per cent and this calls for huge potential in Indian IT,” Gopalakrishnan said.

Detailing on it further, he shared that only three percent of business at Infosys, comes from domestic market and we are looking to expand it further. “It’s important to invest in technology including product development, research and development and focus on the setting up of hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship for tapping larger markets like India”, he added.

The CII launched CEO Series in Chandigarh in 2008 to help its members gain and learn from perspectives, knowledge and experiences of eminent and world renowned CEOs and esteemed personalities. Continuing with the CII CEO Series, the chamber has invited Gopalakrishnan for an exclusive session in Chandigarh to share his vision and experiences with the participants.