New Horizon to open 7 centres in Punjab

US-based IT Education Training Institute, with its base in 56 countries through its over 256 IT education centres, plans to open seven centres in Punjab with an investment of Rs 10 crore.

The company, with a turnover of Rs 2,500 crore, is now eyeing the north region. Location for the forthcoming centres is being identified on the basis of business potential.

New Horizons Inc US in a joint venture with Sri Ram Group, working as New horizons Ltd in the country, plans to open more than 15 centres by the end of next year in north including seven in Punjab, said Abinav Malik, senior manager of the company.

"The north market is very important for us due to its high degree of IT awareness, especially in Punjab area. We have already opened centres in Patiala and Jalandhar," he said.

Malik said according to surveys, the Indian IT education industry stood at Rs 968 crore. "Thus, the scope is immense for us as the region is developing as an IT hub creating a lot of job opportunities for the professionals," he said.

The Nasscom figures also reveal that by 2008, 2.2 million jobs would be offered by the industry and to fill this gap, the company was trying to provide quality education as per the required standards of the IT industry, he said.