Bangalore: Software major Wipro on July 18 reported a 43 per cent rise in its net profit for the first quarter of 2003-2004 at Rs 206 crore over the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Announcing results for the first quarter ending June 30, 2003, the company said its revenue grew by 29 per cent at Rs 1198.9 crore year on year.

Global IT services and products revenue increased by 46 per cent year on year.

Giving the outlook for the quarter ending September 2003, Wipro chairman Azim Premji said the company expected revenue from its global IT services and products segment, including revenue from ITES (IT enabled services) business as of June 30, 2003, to be about $ 210 million.

Wipro vice-chairman Vivek Paul said during the quarter, they continued their success in selling Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Energy and Utilities Consulting Services to its existing clients.

BPO business grew 19 per cent over the previous quarter and Enterprise business sustained its momentum with an 8.3 per cent growth in revenues over the prior quarter, he said.

Global IT services and products accounted for 77 per cent of the revenue and 87 per cent of the Profit Before Interest and Tax (PBIT), a company statement said.

Wipro added 2,251 people including 895 in IT services and 1,356 in ITES. As of June 30, 2003, it has 21,080 employees, including 14,618 in IT services business and 6,462 employees in ITES business.

The statement said 38 new customers comprising 15 customers in R and D services, 13 in Enterprise services, two in ITES and eight customers in Wipro Netware were added.

PTI