Dubai: IT major Wipro has been signed on by the Abu Dhabi-based Higher Colleges of Technology to co-operate in Information Technology and market related services in the region.

Azim Premji, Wipro's chairman, said the deal will allow Wipro to contribute to IT transfer to the region and to "technical resource development to build a rich IT talent pool in the UAE".

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Chairman of the Colleges, signed the Memorandum of Understanding yesterday with Wipro on behalf of the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).

Officials said the deal involves joint development and marketing of IT consulting, solutions and services to customers in the region as well as technology transfer through participation of nationals in various stages of the project.

India's leading IT company Wipro Infotech, a division of the $ 660 million Wipro Ltd Corporation, which offers high value corporate Information Technology products, solutions and services, has been marketing its services in the Middle East from its Middle Eastern operation at Dubai Internet City (DIC).

A statement said the CERT and Wipro will collaborate, develop and implement consulting, solutions and services for educational institutions, corporations, industry and Government entities in the region.