Indian IT solutions and services company plan $17m Investment in the facility

Dubai: An Indian headquartered IT solutions and services company, Netlink, has confirmed plans to shift its software development and outsourcing centre to the UAE from Gurgaon in northern India.

A location for the new 1,200 seat facility has yet to be chosen.

"We are looking at a projected investment of $17 million (Dh62.39 million) for setting up the facility," said Akash Arora, chief technical architect and chief operating officer.

"There are negotiations with a Middle East based investor to come on board for part of the financing."

The company already has a fully functional Dubai office Netlink since 1999, which offers integrated technology services to customers throughout the Gulf.

The transfer should take place within the next six to eight months. Netlink offers call centre facilities, business process support, help centre and technical assistance to clients through the facility. There will also be software development, which currently accounts for 40 per cent of the company's revenues.

Simultaneous with the call centre facility transfer, Netlink's headquarters will also be shifted to Dubai.

A makeshift base will open in the next four months. Pilot tests will then be carried out for prospective clients. Once complete, the permanent base will also provide office space and accommodation for personnel.

"We believe that a call centre base in the UAE can offer a significant value proposition to our clients," Arora said. "Apart from the fact that organisations in markets such as Saudi Arabia are coming to realise the potential of call centres, there is the ample multi-lingual skills available in the region. This is a critical factor in our decision to shift bases."

The Indian operations of Netlink managed through two entities, Netlink Digital Energy and Netlink Information System was founded in 1995.

It has shareholders from this region, as well as an investor based in the US. Of the share ownership, 70 per cent is with senior investors directly involved with the management of the company, while the rest are derived from strategic investors.

The Indian venture has been profitable since 1997 and, according to Arora, was able to override the impact of the IT industry's downturn following the events of September 11, 2001.

Clients include "big" names from the US and UK.

"With our Dubai base coming on line, we will retain the Gurgaon facility for six to eight months before ceasing operations there," said Arora.