Wednesday, May 11 2005 18:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Valtech India, a subsidiary of France-based $ 100 million Global Consulting Group, Valtech, today (May 11, 2005) opened its Global Development Centre in Bangalore and said it plans to reach a headcount of 600 this year from 450 now.

The new centre with an investment of $ two million can accommodate 450 software professionals.

Valtech CEO and chairman Jean-Yves Hardy told reporters that the company planned to deliver at least 50 per cent of its workload between 2005-2007 through its worldwide delivery centre based in Bangalore.

As part of its strategy, Valtech aimed at achieving a "critical mass" in India with delivery staff of over 1,000 engineers in 2006, he said.

Valtech India president and CEO B V Venkatesh said the company also planned to upgrade the existing facility in Bangalore, apart from the new centre, and the entire investment on it and the new facility would together be three million Euros.

Valtech has presence in travel and hospitality, retail, banking, healthcare and smartcard domains with a staff strength of 1100 in 15 offices worldwide.