Satyam has announced plans to open a new facility in Qatar.

"We are currently awaiting commercial tax registration and completion of other formalities before we can set up our wholly owned operations in Qatar," Satyam executive Virender Aggarwal told the Gulf Times.

The company currently provides consulting, systems integration, and outsourcing solutions to a number of local firms.

"We want to build on that. My feeling is that Qatar also looks for more commitment from large vendors like us in terms of local structure and operations rather than doing everything from abroad," said Aggarwal.

The head of Satyam's Asia Pacific, Middle East, India & Africa branches also admitted that the global economic recession would have a negative affect on both revenue and recruitment. However, Aggarwal emphasised the hiring of IT professions would continue during 2009. In addition, Aggarwal noted that the company's revenue in the Middle East region had increased by three-fold in six months up to September.

As IT Examiner previously reported, the Middle East has evolved into a lucrative market for Indian IT companies attempting to reduce their dependence on the US.

"The US accounts for almost 76 per cent of India's total IT exports, but with the slowdown, it is very important that we look at alternatives to diversify the basket. The Indian companies have to be proactive and diversify to other countries and reduce their dependence so that they are not badly affected [by the economic crisis]. That is why we are looking at the Middle East as one of the major markets," said Sunil Vachani, vice-chairman of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) of India.

Wipro marketing manager Rejinder Singh Beniwal expressed similiar sentiments. According to Beniwal, the majority of US and British financial institutions have significantly reduced their budgets and IT investment.

"The Middle East is doing well and the IT sector in the Mena region is not so saturated. All the leading Indian IT companies, such as Infosys and Satyam, are here," Beniwal told the Emirates 24/7. The marketing manager also revealed plans to hire 12,000 people to fulfill major contracts in the region, including a total outsourcing order from a Saudi Arabian airline and a project with the Dubai Islamic Bank.

HCL has also shifted its focus towards the Middle East in an effort to partially offest reduced business from US and European markets.

"Within 45 days, we will have a 15-member strong team in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The next three months will see 125 people working in our Middle East projects," said Sandeep Hardikar, HCL's representative for the Middle East. X

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