According to an official release, Ford has chosen Chennai to set up its new IT centre for Asia-Pacific region at a cost of over Rs 200 crore, which would eventually employ 2500 software personnel.

The activities of the centre would begin with IT initiatives of Ford in India and Asia-Pacific region and would be extended, through support from Indian work force, to the global IT-based programmes of the company, the release adds.

The company would look at the possibility of establishing software and engineering (CAD/CAE) development for new initiatives of Ford.

The other activities to be carried out from the new centre are support for maintaining and enhancing existing systems, helpline call centre for technical assistance, software development programmes and software support for e-business activities of Ford etc.

Ford India sources told The Financial Express that the automotive giant is taking IT as a major tool for its all round development from designing to marketing.

The immediate focus would be on developing e-commerce capability for the Asia-Pacific region and extending it to the European countries. The Chennai facility would be a customer call centre and connectivity would be established with suppliers, dealers and customers in India.

The government press release says that 32 software companies occupy the entire 10 lakh sq ft space in Tidel Park developed by the state government. Of these 50 per cent space is occupied by American companies, 40 per cent by large Indian companies, five per cent by start-up companies and 5 five per cent by European companies.

C B Richard Ellis South Asia Private Ltd is conducting a detailed market survey for the state government for its proposal to set up Tidel- II.

Government sources say that its size, configuration, location and feature would be finalised based on the market survey report.