WIPRO Ltd is a global information technology, consulting and outsourcing company that helps customers do business better by leveraging its industry-wide experience, deep technology expertise, comprehensive portfolio of services and vertically aligned business model. Wipro is globally recognized for its innovative approach towards delivering business value and its commitment to sustainability. It champions optimized utilization of natural resources, capital and talent. Saudi Aramco and Princess Nourah University (PNU) in cooperation with Wipro inaugurated in Riyadh recently the Kingdom's first all-women business and technology park (WBP). The park in the PNU premises includes entrepreneur incubators, daycare centers and a one-stop coordination center for government transactions. [caption id="attachment_55342" align="aligncenter" width="640"] From Left to Right: Prince Turki Bin Abdurahman Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman Wipro Arabia Limited, Indian Ambassador Ahmed Javed, Thomas George – general manager & regional head / KSA – Bahrain, Amin Al Nasser – CEO Saudi Aramco, Abid Ali Neemouchwala – CEO Wipro, Azim H Premji –Chairman Wipro, Soumitro Ghosh – president Wipro, Dr. Musaed Bin Abdullah Al-Meseinad, PhD – Vice Rector PNU, Mazen Humaidan AlHumaidan – marketing director, PNU. — Courtesy photos[/caption] This joint venture will leverage Wipro's expertise in managing talent and providing IT services to a multi-industry customer base, said Abidali Neemuchwala,CEO, in an interview with the Saudi Gazette. Excerpts Q: Today Wipro is a reputable name with its presence in various parts of the world including KSA. Elaborate on Wipro's journey in Saudi Arabia? AA: Wipro began its operations in the Middle-East region in 2001. We entered the region in partnership with Dal Al Riyadh in Al Khobar, a well-diversified group in Saudi Arabia and later strengthened this partnership by forming a joint venture. The joint venture company, Wipro Arabia Limited (WAL), today serves customers across the Kingdom and has emerged as a strategic IT partner to some of the biggest names in KSA. Q: Explain in detail the presence of Wipro in Saudi Arabia and its areas of involvement in your field? AA: We have been present in the Kingdom for more than a decade and are partners to leading organizations in the region. We have delivered marquee and transformational programs to clients across industry sectors such as oil and gas, government, BFSI etc. To support clients in KSA, Wipro has a Development Center in Al Khobar and Riyadh. We also have sales and support offices in Al Khobar, Riyadh and Jeddah. The Al Khobar development center is one of the very few in the Kingdom, which is certified and conforms with the highest level of CMMi Level 5 practices. Q: How do you compare your workforce to that of your competitors in terms of quality, efficiency and effectiveness? AA: Wipro Arabia employs over 1, 200 people. Wipro continuously makes significant investments in upskilling and cross skilling its staff to meet growing client requirements and keep pace with the shifting technology landscape. Over the years, as part of our concerted Saudization drive, Wipro has imparted training to over 1,000 locals. The company has so far trained over 100 women for the recently announced Women's Business Park. This apart, Wipro has also been involved in the Mahara program, where we trained women in basic communication and IT skills to improve their employability. We helped train over 500 Saudi women as part of this initiative. Q: Saudi Arabia is considered as a market with great potential in the Middle East. Do you have any specific long-term strategy for Saudi market? AA: Saudi Arabia recently unveiled its Vision 2030 which lays out the Kingdom's long-term goals and expectations that will involve a lesser dependence on oil revenue. Diversifying its economy and investing in mineral mining will be part of the plan. The Vision emphasizes the role of women in contributing towards the development of the Saudi society and economy. Over 50% of the university graduates here, are women and the aim is to increase the participation of women in the workforce to 30%. We are happy to note that the Women's Business Park initiative strongly aligns with the Kingdom's vision and is a step in this direction. The contribution of Saudi Arabia to Wipro's revenue has been growing significantly and we will continue to invest in this market. Q: Customer satisfaction is the backbone of any business, what is Wipro's policy / strategy in this regard? AA: We focus on earning our clients trust and maximize value of their business by providing solutions that integrate deep industry insights, leading technologies & best in class execution. We take client satisfaction very seriously and invest in regular reviews of our work and client engagements. We help customers do business better by leveraging our industry-wide experience, deep technology expertise and comprehensive portfolio of services. Q: "Women's business park"— could you please elaborate? AA: The Women's Business Park has been established through a joint venture between Wipro Arabia Limited and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), the largest women university in the world. Saudi Aramco is the strategic advisor for this initiative. The joint venture will leverage Wipro's expertise in managing talent and providing IT services to a multi-industry customer base. It will be responsible for developing the park's facilities and infrastructure as well as training and employing Saudi women. The park will provide services in Engineering Drafting Services, Business Process Outsourcing and Information Technology with customers from many industries such as oil & gas, manufacturing, government, medical, telecom and construction. The park will be developed in the iconic PNU premises, and will include entrepreneur incubators, daycare centers and a one-stop coordination center for government transactions. Q: What is the message from Azim Premji and his CSR policy towards KSA in general? AA: A good society is one which ensures the well-being of all its members. Premji believes that the privileged have a responsibility to contribute to developing such a society. They could do this in various ways, e.g. by doing their bit to ensure that everyone's basic human needs are met and by creating growth and development opportunities for all. He believes that education is a key building block of a good society. It plays a vital role in empowering individuals and societies. The importance of education goes much beyond the economic opportunity and potential it offers. If we really want to build a just, humane and equitable society, education would be the transformative force. An increasing number of women are opting for the excellent education system that Saudi Arabia has to offer. These women, if placed and supported in appropriate jobs, can strengthen the foundation of the nation. This can happen only if we ensure they have appropriate jobs in an environment they are comfortable in. The historic Women's Business Park is a step in this direction. Q: Finally, can you please give us a brief information on Saudization in Wipro KSA? AA: Wipro is committed to the localization policy — nearly 34% of our employees in KSA are Saudi nationals. Through the Women Business Park we are looking to increase employment opportunities for women in the region by building competency in managerial and technical positions, across business lines. Recruitment, training and development of local talent is a continuous process and we remain committed to Saudization.
