New Delhi: On an expansion drive, EXL Service Inc on July 27 said it would invest about $ 6.5 million to set up a new facility for business process outsourcing (BPO) in Pune.

With this fourth facility becoming operational, EXL's capacity of production seats per shift will increase by 1,025 to 7,575 seats on a three-shift basis.

EXL, which recently bagged three BPO contracts from US and UK-based companies, has stepped up its recruitment drive to fulfil its additional requirement of over 15,00 agents.

The first phase of the current expansion would be complete by December 2003, while the second and last phase would be over by May 2004, a company statement said.

Commenting on the expansion, company chief executive officer (CEO) Vikram Talwar said,"…We have successfully derisked our business by extending geographies. While we have entered new business verticals, we have further strengthened our domain expertise in banking and insurance sector."

PTI