BANGALORE, India -- 17 August 2000 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, announced today the next phase of its investment plans for India. The Internet leader shared its plans today at the opening ceremony of its newly leased 60,000 sq ft facility at Prestige Waterford in Bangalore, which was officiated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. S.M. Krishna. The expansion plan includes a US$150 million investment over the next two years; a 300 per cent increase in employee strength in that same period; and an expansion in the R&D activities of the Cisco Global Development Center.
"The Cisco Global Development Center in Bangalore is a significant investment for us and is our largest R&D facility outside the US. This center will play a strategic role in Cisco's ability to rapidly develop technologies and scale our engineering processes in order to quickly deploy the solutions and products that customers are demanding in the Internet Economy," said Ms. Jayshree Ullal, Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Line of Business, Cisco Systems.
Mr. Gary Jackson, Vice President, Asia Operations, Cisco Systems, added that India, which was Cisco's second fastest growing market in the world, has long-term importance for the company. "We are seeing phenomenal growth in the Internet and telecommunications markets in India and there is tremendous potential for the country to establish itself as a leader in the Internet Economy. Our investments in the country are a symbol of our commitment to do what we can to help the country achieve that through next-generation infrastructure equipment and transfers of skills and knowledge," he said.
Cisco Systems India Private Limited (CSIPL) currently employs about 500 people in the Cisco Global Development Center in Bangalore and in its sales offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta. In addition, there are partner employees who are fully dedicated in supporting Cisco's R&D efforts in the Cisco Wipro Development Center and the Cisco Infosys Development Center in Bangalore and the Cisco HCL Development Center in Chennai.
The increased headcount will go mainly to filling the growing requirements for the Cisco Global Development Center, which today is Cisco's largest R&D facility outside the US. An additional 175,000 sq ft of office space has been leased elsewhere in Bangalore to cater for the planned expansion.
The center together with its partner centers conduct development and testing of Cisco IOSb software, Network Management Software, ASICs, as well as other technologies such as ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), VoIP (Voice over IP) and Optical Internetworking.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.
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