Gandhinagar, July 17 (IANS) HCL Tech inaugurated its Global Technology Centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) on Friday, with Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi describing the facility as a significant milestone for the growth of Gujarat’s information technology sector and highlighting the company’s emphasis on creating local employment opportunities.
Inaugurating the centre, Sanghavi said HCL Tech had adopted a different approach from many large IT companies by focusing on recruiting locally and working with local partners instead of relying on manpower from other states.
“Generally, large IT companies import manpower from other states. However, unlike others, HCL Tech is working towards creating employment opportunities at the local level and progressing by involving local partners. This policy of the company is truly commendable and will play an important role in making the state’s youth self-reliant,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also praised the company’s ‘Come Back Home’ initiative, which aims to encourage skilled professionals from Gujarat working in cities such as Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, as well as overseas in countries including the United States, to return to their home state for employment.
“HCL’s initiative to bring talented young people from Gujarat back to their home state and provide employment has set an example for other companies. Through this centre, Gujarati youth will now be able to build world-class IT careers while staying with their families in their home state and fulfil their dreams,” Sanghavi said.
The company said the centre has commenced operations with a team of 100 employees in its initial phase, with the majority of the workforce comprising local Gujarati youth.
Apart from supporting the finance IT sector, the new facility houses an advanced Artificial Intelligence Lab. Sanghavi described the AI lab as “a game-changer for future technology”.
Reflecting on the development of GIFT City, the Deputy Chief Minister said the area had once been barren land and had evolved into a global financial technology hub through long-term planning and sustained efforts.
“Years ago this was barren land, but GIFT City is an excellent example of how any dream can be realised on the ground through proper leadership, firm determination and hard work. Gujarat’s then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned developing this place into a world-class financial technology city, and today that vision has been realised,” he said.
Sanghavi congratulated HCL Tech and expressed hope that the company would expand its operations in Gujarat beyond the two floors from which the centre currently operates.
“I extend my best wishes to HCL and hope that this centre, which has currently started on two floors, expands further in the coming days and that the company establishes a larger unit in Gujarat,” he said.
Senior company officials Vijaykumar, Rahul Singh and Sanjay Kaul attended the inauguration along with representatives from the IT industry and young professionals.
–IANS
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