Date:20/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/20/stories/2004082002000400.htm

Back Fairfax County opens office in Bangalore

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington , Aug. 19

THE Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has opened an office in Bangalore to work with Indian companies that may be interested in expanding operations in the US.

The Fairfax County in northern Virginia just outside Washington D.C. is the first county to open a marketing office in India; and the Bangalore office would be its fifth overseas office.

The county has international operations in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Tel Aviv. The Bangalore office will be headed by Mr Prasad Tagat, according to FCEDA release.

"The Indian technology industry is experiencing tremendous growth and we want to be in place in Bangalore to help companies when they decide on expanding to the US,'' Mr Gerald Gordon, President and CEO, FCEDA, said.

"Our 4,800 technology companies and our location near the nation's capital and Washington Dulles International Airport make Fairfax County a natural location for expanding Indian companies and being on the ground in India helps us spread the word about the opportunities here,'' he added.

"Many people are concerned about US jobs going to India. This office will reverse that trend by creating jobs in the US,'' Dr Gordon said.

It is pointed out that the Fairfax County is home to more than 4,800 technology firms and almost 300 foreign-owned companies. There are nine Indian companies that would include Guru Infotech (Epiance), HCL Technologies America, Indotronix and Megasoft.

The FCEDA is pointing out that more than $7.1 billion in US Federal Government contracts are awarded annually to companies in the Fairfax County.