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By KA Badarinath: US tech giant commits to invest $1.7b for expansion in phases Silicon Valley is coming closer to India. The $49 billion networking giant Cisco will partner the Indian government in the $15.6 billion Digital India campaign to take IT-based network through a string of projects and high-speed internet highway to villages and the rural hinterland. Cisco chairman and managing director John Chambers met prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday ahead of firming up the technology giant’s plans for expansion in India with an investment of $1.7 billion in phases. Top technology giants like Face Book, Microsoft, IBM and HP are vying for a piece of cake in the Digital India project that’s expected to take governance to grassroots and provide millions of technology and knowledge economy- based jobs. While Chambers is expected to handover the baton of the company to Chuck Robbins as chief executive shortly, he will continue as the company’s chairman. Both Chambers and Robbins led the top deck Cisco team for the meeting with the Indian prime minister. After the meeting with Chambers, Modi in a tweet said, “discussed technology and investment opportunities in India”. Chambers responded, “We are investing big in India. I have deep admiration for the country, as it truly understands the importance of digitisation and the impact it will have.” He added: “We came to India for the quality of the workforce. We invested in innovation, which is now transforming industries. Cisco is committed to partnering with India’s government to translate the digital India vision into reality. I believe that India’s entrepreneurial spirit, highly skilled workforce and supportive government will accelerate the country’s digital transformation.” On Thursday, Cisco also announced investments worth $40 million on its expansion plans and $20 million to train 120,000 students in India for jobs in digital economy. Cisco, that already employs over 10,000 professionals in India across cities like Delhi, national capital region, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, has the largest research and development network outside US. The India- based R&D set up alone employs over 8,000 technology geeks. John Chambers and Chuck Robbins along with the top Cisco team will travel to Bengaluru where all company employees have been invited for a meeting with their top global team. About 10 days ago, at a huge gathering of IT professionals held in San Diego, Chambers bet big on India as an investment destination and expansion for the company. Prime minister Narendra Modi has got it “right” with his digital India thrust. Digitalisation will help create millions of jobs and enhance the standard of living of the people, Chambers said, adding, “(prime minister Narendra) Modi in India gets this. If you are going to bet on an emerging country, bet on India. ” Added the outgoing Cisco boss: “I mean, they (India) know this is their chance to get this inflection point and blow ahead of all their peers as well as create jobs for...millions. They can change dramatically their standard of living.” badarinath@mydigitalfc.com. Source: mydigitalfc.com
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