IT and BPO services provider Cognizant Technology Solutions has opened its first development centre in Kerala.

According to Lakshmi Narayanan, vice-chairman, Cognizant, “In the first phase, 400 professionals would be recruited and trained for the 37,000 square feet new facility housed at the SEZ notified Muthoot IT park. Later, the capacity would be increased to 800 professionals.”

Cognizant had recently announced plans to expand its infrastructure in India at an investment of about $200 million by the end of 2008 on land acquisition, facilities construction and furnishing.

The centre would initially focus on information, media and entertainment industry and gradually expand to other industries including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and telecommunications in the coming years.

PTI