Intel to hire more in India

Even as Intel's plans to set up a manufacturing centre in India is under a cloud, the global microprocessor major said it was committed to invest more in the country.

"We continue to invest in India. The development centre is growing...we are continuing to hire and grow...it is part of our existing plan...Our presence in India is growing in terms of number of cities and towns. So, our overall commitment to India just continues to grow", Ketan Sampat, president, Intel India said.

Parrying questions about the exact number of people to be hired at the company's India Development Centre in Bangalore, Sampat said, "We don't divulge specific numbers."

Currently, the centre has 2,700 professionals and it is engaged in design and development of solutions for all major Intel business units. Its new campus is also coming up in Bangalore.

Sampat, however, declined to comment on Intel's plans to set up a manufacturing unit in India. IT minister Dayanidhi Maran had earlier announced that Intel would set up a $400 million assembly test manufacturing plant in India, but the company had denied having arrived at such a decision.

Intel had announced $41-million investment in its Intel India Development Centre in 2003.