Intel to bolster India operation

Intel to bolster India operation - Technology - International Herald Tribune: Intel, the world's largest chip maker, plans to invest more than $1 billion in India to strengthen its operations in the country, Craig Barrett, its chairman, said Monday.

"Intel, the world's largest chip maker, plans to invest more than $1 billion in India to strengthen its operations in the country, Craig Barrett, its chairman, said Monday.

The company will invest $800 million to expand marketing and research and development operations in India. The investment includes $250 million for a venture capital fund.

Intel has a development center in Bangalore, India's technology hub, which designs and develops software to power chips that drive computers and high-end networks for Internet-based applications.

Barrett also said Intel was in talks with the Indian government to set up a chip manufacturing facility in the country, without giving a time frame.

Advanced Micro Devices, Intel's leading rival, hasconcluded a recent agreement with the consortium SemIndia to supply technology for a proposed $3 billion chip-making factory in India.

Intel also said it would increase the number of employees at its Bangalore development center, which employs 2,800 people.

Last week, Intel said it would build a plant in Kiryat Gat, a town near Tel Aviv, after the company received a $525 million government grant. The plant would be Intel's second in Kiryat Gat and third in Israel. The new plant would add up to 4,400 jobs in Kiryat Gat."