SAP to pump in $1 billion in India; double headcount by 2010

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Germany-based software solutions provider SAP AG today said it will invest one billion dollar in India in the next five years, besides expanding its headcount to 3,500 by the end of 2006, from the current 2750 employees.

''As one of our top eight strategic markets globally, we plan to invest one billion dollar over the next five years in India,'' SAP Chief Executive Officer Henning Kagermann told reporters here.

The company will invest 30 million euros in its second largest R&D hub--SAP Labs India campus. SAP has so far made investments to the tune of 20 million euros to build the phase I and II of the same.

SAP Labs India has two centres in India at Bangalore and Gurgaon with the latter inaugurated by the company CEO today. SAP will have over 250 employees working out of the new office by December-end.

SAP plans to hire 750 employees in the next five months to take the headcount to 3,500 and double it by 2010, SAP India President and MD Alan Sedghi said.

SAP has been in India for more than a decade, investing 500 million dollars and has over 1,000 clients in the country. The company will increase its customer base to 15,000 by 2010, Mr Sedghi added.

''The quality of talent, innovation and performance coming from India is impressive and our additional investments are designed to harness more of the same,'' Mr Kagermann said.

By the end of 2006, India is expected to account for 20 per cent of the firm's global research and product development, and a similar amount of its services and support business, he said.

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