IBM has opened its first Global Delivery center in Noida, Uttar Pradesh on the outskirts of Delhi.

IBM India’s global delivery centers offer a range of services capabilities including Consulting and Systems Integration, Infrastructure, Applications and Business Process transformation and management.

IBM has six Global Delivery locations in India: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai and National Capital Region (Noida and Gurgaon).

IBM plans to open a second center in Noida in phase two of the expansion, which is expected to be fully operational by mid-2008.

Both centers are located in Sector 62 and will house close to 3000 employees when they are fully staffed.

IBM said the new centers would enable it to increase its existing application services portfolio to support a growing global client base.

The six centers in India are supposed to be an integral part of IBM’s global delivery network, spread across three dozen countries around the world.

IBM plans to increase its operations in Noida by hiring technology graduates and IT professionals with skills in IT strategy and architecture, business consulting, enterprise solutions (SAP, Siebel, and Oracle), testing, and business intelligence.

IBM already has a significant presence in Lucknow (capital of Uttar Pradesh state) and is working with various clients including Department of Revenue, UP Electronics Corporation Ltd, Hindustan aeronautics Ltd, UP Mandi Parishad, Irrigation Department, Sahara India and Hindalco Industries.