Bangalore still a greener pasture for US companies

BANGALORE, INDIA: Just a day after American President Obama's controversial comment urging corporates to say no to Bangalore and say yes to the Buffalo City, if they wanted to get tax benefits, yet another US-based company, sees immense potential in India, especially Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India.

Linkage Inc, a provider in HR consulting and assessment services today announced its foray in India, with Bangalore as the headquarters of the India operations. The company says that it is seeing a good opportunity in the country despite the global financial downturn.

Brushing aside President Obama's Bangalore-Buffalo City comment as “just politics”,

Phil Harkins, founder and CEO of Linkage Inc said nothing can stop the world from sharing business and knowledge.

“India as a country has a huge economy. Outsourcing is a business and nothing can stop the world from sharing business and knowledge,” he pointed out.

Romi Malhotra, CEO, Linkage India said , “Till now our country is seen on the basis of two advantages , which is taxes (cheaper costs) and cheap labor. But now India should be seen with a different note, we should be seen as an innovator.”

He further said that innovation can act as a competitive edge and if you are an innovator nothing can stop progress.

Further talking about starting the India operations during a tough economy Malhotra stated: “Weather it's recession or not we need leaders and looking at our country's trillion dollar economy we sees that the requirement is even more. We could have waited a few more months for the economy to revive and then put forth our foot print in India, but we are seeing the demand.”

Linkage India aims to create a new benchmark and define a unique paradigm on creating leaders with global competence - interpreted and applied for Indian needs.

Keeping in mind about the on going financial crisis the company has consciously kept their pricing module below the market rate.

Apart from Bangalore Linkage has an office in India New Delhi as well. Currently in India the company has a total headcount of ten.