Raqmiyat, a leading UAE-based systems integrator, has opened a new state-of-the-art ‘Software Development Centre’ at the DLF IT Park, Chennai, a SEZ (Special Economic Zone) facility, as part of the company's ongoing expansion program.

The new facility is a purpose-built workspace that perfectly balances design aesthetics with an interactive environment required for IT/ITES professionals.

Raqmiyat will train and deploy up to 100 IT personnel in its new development centre, serving as a major software and technological development and Outsourcing Centre for customers in the Middle East. The company has invested close to Dh10 million ($2.72 million) to set-up the centre, which is now operational.

The new ‘Software Development Centre’ is designed to synchronise new-age workspace needs with intelligent planning, and is in line with the company’s plans to strengthen its outsourcing resources and services in the critical fields of managed services, hosting and infrastructure services, information systems, software applications, and network and desktop management services.

DLF IT Park is currently the largest Infotech hub of Chennai and offers world-class standards of structural design, making it the preferred choice for blue-chip corporate clients. Raqmiyat has revealed that it considers India to be the perfect location for its first ‘Software Development Centre’ on account of highly professional IT manpower base in India.

Chennai in particular has earned a reputation as one of the premier emerging technology centres of India as it now serves as the hub of many IT and ITES giants across the world.

'By establishing a new ‘Software Development Centre’ in a more cost-effective location such as India, where the IT talent pool is rich, we are able to maintain our high levels of service and performance, enabling us to cater to the unique needs of our clients in the Middle East. This facility will serve our regional customers, especially in the UAE, without compromising the continued growth of the company,' said Tapas Roy, COO, Raqmiyat.

A recent IDC study has revealed that the market for outsourced IT services in the UAE continues to offer strong growth potential as it is projected to reach $170.5 million in 2010 from $81.3 million in 2006.

In addition, outsourcing expenditure is expected to account for 23 per cent of the total IT services market by 2010, up from around 15 per cent in 2006. The growing popularity of outsourcing has been impacted by increasing awareness of the numerous benefits it delivers, including lower costs, flexibility in the management of resources, end-user satisfaction and reduction in cycle times.

Raqmiyat is the primary IT division of the Al Ghurair business group.-TradeArabia News Service