Infosys, a global IT consulting firm, has announced setting up a new proximity centre in Sofia, Bulgaria as part of its European expansion strategy. 

With this new establishment, the IT firm plans to hire at least 500 local employees. Additionally, they will facilitate talent development among these new hires through reskilling and upskilling for new technologies, including Infosys Cobalt Cloud Solutions, Infosys Topaz Artificial Intelligence & Automation, Data and Insights, IoT, 5G, and software engineering, to support global operations.

The IT firm noted that Bulgaria’s advanced infrastructure, local talent pool, and strong IT knowledge can build an attractive market for IT development. “This center in the nation's capital will provide an ideal environment for companies in various sectors, including financial services and retail, within Bulgaria and throughout Europe to collaborate and drive digital transformation. Partnering with these organizations, the center will be a hub for creating and scaling innovative technology-based solutions,” stated the firm in an official announcement. 

Furthermore, this IT center will boost AI and Cloud-driven digital initiatives and enhance Infosys's presence in Europe, particularly in manufacturing, retail, and financial services. For this, the IT firm will also grow its teams in digital, analytics, SAP, and cloud expertise.

Milena Stoycheva, Minister of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria added, "The opening of the new Centre in Sofia is a testament to Infosys' commitment to fostering talent in our country. With a commitment to employing a 500-strong workforce over the next four years, we're excited to see the company contribute to our local economy and bring new skills and opportunities for talent working in the technology sector."

Dinesh Rao, EVP and co-head of Delivery at Infosys, "We are dedicated to continuing to grow our footprint in Europe to bring our capabilities, skills and expertise ever closer to our clients. Bulgaria is renowned for its excellent IT talent, and we're excited to build an exemplary workforce that meets the demands for next-generation skills and solutions, with a focus on catalyzing the progress of our client's AI and cloud-first transformation. Bringing together the strength of local talent with our industry-leading expertise and innovation we're confident the new centre will serve as a hub of innovation to help shape digital Europe."