Bangalore: Wipro Infotech is all set to set up its development centre in Egypt to target IT export services for the Middle-East and worldwide markets. The company has signed up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for setting up the centre in Cairo’s Smart Village.

The company will offer software development, integration and consulting services from this novel centre, which is likely to commence functioning within a month’s time. The centre has the capacity for 200 people, which can be amplified to accommodate to 300 people.

Rajat Mathur, Wipro head Middle East and Asia Pacific regions stated, “Wipro has always been focused on Middle East as a region and localization in this region is one of the key strategies for growth this year. This development centre besides strengthening Wipro’s dominance in the region would also give a thrust to Wipro’s Global Delivery Model.”

Egyptian minister of communications and information technology Tarek Kamal articulated, “Wipro’s setting up of a global development centre will give a further impetus to Egypt as an IT export destination.’’ Wipro started its operations in Middle East in 2001.

At present, Wipro has a sturdy customer base across the Middle East with processes spread across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Some of Wipro’s clients in the state comprise Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Metal, Dubai eGovernment, Qatar Petroleum, Bahraini Saudi Bank, Future Communications Company, Kuwait, Doha Bank, PetroRabigh, SASREF and Saudi Polyolefins Company.

Recently, Wipro reported a marginal increase in its net earnings for the quarter ended June 2007. The company’s quarterly income increase 8.45% to Rs 6,714 million from Rs 6,191 million in the corresponding quarter, last year. Net sales for June 2007 quarter rose 22.57% to Rs 36,791 million compared with the corresponding quarter, a year ago.