Logistix chief executive officer and president Murrali Rangarajan told the California newspaper India-West that the deal ``fills in a missing piece'' for Logistix by adding India to the company's international partnerships.

``The time seemed right'' for the company's first alliance in India, he added. For Mumbai-based Repro India, the alliance ``enhances their position'' in supplying ``one-stop'' services to their clients in the subcontinent, said Rangarajan, who was named CEO in February and joined Logistix in 1993 as chief operating officer and vice-president for operations.

``India is the latest Asian expansion for Logistix, supplementing existing operation centres in Taiwan and Singapore, and this partnership furtherestablishes us as the leading provider of integrated supply chain management services in Asia,'' added Logistix executive vice-president Raj Mun. ``India, with its burgeoning IT industry and enormous consumer market, is a key geography for Logistix.'

Repro India is the only Microsoft Authorised Replicator on the Indian subcontinent and has facilities in Bangalore and Delhi. Repro began operations in India about 10 years ago and provides software manufacturing, fulfilment and sophisticated printing services to high-tech companies. Its clients include Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Tata Consultancy Services and Sun Microsystems. ``This alliance with Logistix is in keeping with our vision to broaden the service offering we bring to our customers and gives us access to world class operations centres around the globe,'' said Repro senior vice-president Jeevan Adya.