India-based Wipro Technologies, a subsidiary of New York-listed Wipro, aims to grow its staff three-fold in Africa, over the next three years, as it expands on the continent.
Wipro is a global IT major, which offers services in IT services and consulting. Its services span financial services, retail, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare services, energy and utilities, technology, telecom and media.
Shailendra Singh, Africa business development head, says Wipro is in nine African countries currently and plans to increase its investment in a few countries. The group is looking at both East and West Africa, as well as countries that adjoin SA, he adds.
Singh says the group has made good traction in the past 24 to 36 months. Wipro will focus on telecoms and financial services as these two sectors cut across the continent.
In SA, Wipro is also looking at other areas such as resources and utilities, says Singh. Currently, Wipro has 600 staff on the continent, and hires between 18 000 and 20 000 a year globally. “Our plans are aggressive.”
Globally, Wipro has identified growth markets for IT outsourcing such as France, Germany, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, says Singh. He explains that Africa forms part of this targeted growth.
Growth markets are expected to gain three times the average development - about 45% a year, says Singh.
In the last 18 months, Wipro has made significant investments, says Singh, although he will not disclose the value. The money has been going into laying foundations, he adds.
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