BANGALORE: "We are putting our resources where our markets are. We have access to an incredible talent pool of engineers who offer skills and it has a side benefit -- incredibly low cost," Intel president and COO Paul Otellini told reporters on Tuesday. "All these factors contribute to our large investment in India." Intel, in fact, has earned more revenues recently out of India, China and east Europe than North America. Last month, the global chip leader had announced the expansion of its development base in Bangalore and said it would invest $41 million in setting up a new facility. Said Otellini: "We have been involved in growing the markets. As we look around the world, India, China, Russia and east Europe are very strong growth opportunities." "During the last 10 years, as we look at the revenue pattern, more and more revenues haven't come from North America (but from these countries)." Intel, however, had no plans to set up a fabrication plant in India. The proposed new facility, spread over 43 acres, is expected to house more than 1,000 engineers. There are plans to increase its workforce from the current 1,100 to 3,000 by 2005. Otellini, who arrived from Mumbai, met Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna for informal discussions lasting 30 minutes. "I am excited about any market where anyone buys a product," he said. During the downturn, the Asia-Pacific market had shown consistent growth. This was because of increasing consumption in China and increasing propensity for outsourcing to China. "I see it retaining for quite some time." Intel was, however, "cautiously optimistic" about the future, taking a quarter at a time so far as growth plans went.
Source: IANS