Starbucks Coffee Company, the US-headquartered global coffee major, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Chennai, creating high-paying employment opportunities for 800 technology professionals.
First India GCC
The Chennai GCC will be Starbucks’ first global capability centre in India. The company will operate the centre independently of Tata Consumer Products, its retail business partner in India.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat on Monday. The agreement was signed with Guidance, the Tamil Nadu government’s investment promotion agency, on behalf of the state government.
Focus on technology talent
The GCC is expected to create high-paying jobs for 800 technology professionals, adding to Tamil Nadu’s efforts to expand its GCC ecosystem and generate skilled employment.
The state government said Starbucks’ entry into the GCC sector would further strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position as a global technology and business-services hub.
Chennai talent pool drives decision
Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Anand Varadarajan said India is considered a very important market for the company. He cited Chennai’s large pool of skilled technology professionals, lower employee attrition, strong infrastructure and incentives offered by the Tamil Nadu government as factors behind the decision to establish the GCC in the city.
According to Varadarajan, the talent available in Tamil Nadu would help Starbucks develop new solutions and grow its business.
Tamil Nadu seeks more global investments
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the state government was pleased with Starbucks’ decision to establish its global capability centre in Chennai.
He said the confidence placed by a globally recognised company in Tamil Nadu was a testament to the capabilities of the state’s young workforce.
The Chief Minister added that the investment would help create more employment opportunities for skilled young people and demonstrate Tamil Nadu’s ability to attract other high-quality global companies.
Senior officials attend
The MoU signing was attended by Industries Minister S Keerthana, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department S. Vijay Kumar, Guidance Managing Director and CEO Deepak Shukla, Starbucks CTO Anand Varadarajan and senior government officials.