World's largest computer service company, IBM Corp. has announced that it will establish a new software development center in Calcutta, West Bengal, and hire upto 3000 new staff to meet the robust demand for outsourcing.

According to IBM India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the $ 93 billion company, the new facility will be housed at the DLF IT Park, initially employing 700 IT professionals.

This new centre in Kolkata is a reaffirmation of IBM's commitment to West Bengal. It will further augment our vast global delivery network that spans three dozen countries, including India, said Mr. Annaswamy, managing director, IBM India, talking to reporters soon after the inauguration, September 21.

Annaswamy also spoke about IBM's strong campus relations strategy in India, including its associations with IIT Kharagpur, the University of Burdwan and Jadavpur University (JU). So much so, IBM has inked an MoU with the JU to set up a Centre for Mobile Computing (CMCC), which will be positioned as a Centre of excellence for wireless, RFI/sensor technologies.

IBM will also launch its Appropriate Continued Education Program for the first time in India, enabling science graduates in West Bengal state to train with the company to receive a masters degree.

Our exponential growth in Calcutta is a testimony to our commitment to develop India as a key location for our global delivery capabilities, said Amitabh Ray, vice president of IBM India's Consulting and Application Services. We are very bullish to fill up this capacity very soon because the business is growing and customers are showing more and more interest in sourcing of global delivery services.

India is by far the largest global delivery centre within IBM, Ray said.

IBM Corp. has been aggressively expanding its Indian work force, growing from 38,500 workers in December 2005 to 43,000 in June this year.

In June, IBM said it would invest $ 6 billion in India over three years as part of its move to increase outsourcing services and client management from Asia's fourth-largest economy.

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