Lokesh seals deal with HCL Technologies

Facilities to come up in 10 years; 5,000 jobs for people of the region

Minister for Panchayat Raj and IT Nara Lokesh with HCL chairman Shiv Nadar at the HCL Noida Campus, in New Delhi on Friday.

Andhra Pradesh Information and Technology Minister Nara Lokesh on Friday formally handed over the bunch of permissions to set up R&D facilities, IT services and skill development centre in Vijayawada to HCL Technologies founder and Chairman Shiv Nadar.

The parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March, 30 wherein they had agreed to the broad outline of the proposed investment by HCL in A.P. HCL’s proposed facility in Vijayawada marks the first marquee investment by a leading IT company in A.P., post bifurcation.

The company will invest Rs. 500 crore in ten years for a development centre, training facility and other ancillary facilities. HCL aims to hire, employ and train 5,000 local residents across the two phases. HCL will develop its first centre at Kesarapalle village in Gannavaram mandal of Krishna district in a total area of 17.86 acres.

The second centre will come up in 10 acres at Ainavolu village in the Amaravati capital region. Along with the permissions, letter of allocation for land parcel for Phase I of the project was handed over by the Minister to the HCL Chairman.

The proposed facility is intended to service new innovations and high-ensd technology requirements of HCL’s global clientele. Trainees are expected to undergo rigorous training by industry experts to equip them with the right skills required for attending to the technology needs of global customers of HCL.

‘Catalyst to IT’s growth’

On the occasion, Mr. Lokesh said: “I am confident that HCL’s strategic project will be a catalyst to the IT/ITeS sector in A.P. and facilitate creation of world-class intellectual property and large-scale employment through their R&D labs. At a time when there are headwinds in the sector, HCL’s investment is a testimony of the talent available in A.P. and the proactive governance of the State government.”

Welcoming the gesture, the HCL spokesperson said: “We feel privileged by the warm welcome extended by the A.P. government. This further reinforces our commitment towards our shared vision of creating an ecosystem which will help shape career of youth and make them future-ready. The Global IT and training centre will act as a spring board for creative people’s aspirations and knowledge management, thus making A.P. an IT hub and a trendsetter for today’s youth.”