SAP's ambitious India plans

SAP AG, the global business solutions provider, announced on August 3 that it will hire 1,900 software programmers for its Bangalore development centre by the end of 2006.

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.

Founded in 1972, SAP is a recognised leader in providing collaborative business solutions for all types of industries and major markets.

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 investment 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.

Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images

Also see: SAP bullish on India