AstraZeneca India Private Limited has announced a significant investment of $30 million (Rs 250 crore) to expand its Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) in Tamil Nadu. This move is set to position the Chennai facility as AstraZeneca’s largest Global Capability Centre (GCC) globally, streamlining operations and bolstering efficiency and innovation within the company.
The expansion will introduce 1,300 new positions by next year, leveraging advanced technologies such as enterprise platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and supply chain analytics to enhance healthcare outcomes.
The inauguration event, which took place in Chennai, was attended by prominent figures including Dr. TRB Rajaa, Minister of Industries for Tamil Nadu, Christina Scott CMG, British Deputy High Commissioner, and Sylvia Varela, AstraZeneca’s Vice President for Asia Area.
Dr. TRB Rajaa, expressing his enthusiasm for the development, stated, “AstraZeneca’s investment will not only enhance our state’s capabilities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors but also spur technological advancements and economic development.” He further added on X, “This new campus will be home to 4000 high-quality jobs in Chennai.”
The GITC facility in Chennai currently occupies 334,000 square feet of office space at Ramanujan IT City, with plans to expand by an additional 180,000 square feet over the next six months. AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL), as the GCC of the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant, continues to play a vital role in the Indian market, a relationship that has spanned nearly 45 years. Notably, AstraZeneca developed the widely used Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, and currently employs more than 4,000 people in the country.
Sylvia Varela emphasized the strategic importance of the Chennai centre, highlighting its role in driving innovation and technological advancements that will benefit global healthcare.
