The hiring binge will increase the German software maker's work force at the development centre to 3,000, making it SAP's largest software research and development centre outside Germany, the company said in a media release.
The India centre currently has 1,100 developers. The firm plans to increase the headcount to 1,500 by 2004-end.
The Walldorf, Germany-headquartered SAP will also invest euro 20 million in expanding its facility in Bangalore.
SAP AG CEO Henning Kagermann said that SAP would make the invest in the phase III of India development centre, located in over 21 acres of land at Whitefield on the outskirts of Bangalore.
SAP employs 30,000 people globally and develops programmes that help companies process orders, update staff records, track inventory and manage other business tasks. The company has been expanding its operations in India, which it says is one of the fastest-growing markets for its software, for several years.
Henning Kagermann (L), Chief Executive Officer, SAP AG, along with company executive board member Peter Zencke (R) in Bangalore. Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images