March 14, 2005 – Applied Materials CEO Mike Splinter said on Wednesday that his company has embarked on a process to consolidate its Indian operations that would also see it expanding its software development and R&D role into engineering services, according to Financial Times Information Ltd. Splinter made these comments on a visit to India on behalf of the Indus Entrepreneurs.

Addressing a press conference, Splinter said Applied’s “Indian operations have grown from a modest beginning in 2001 to about 700 people in India and we expect to continue to expand our project development teams here. Apart from consolidating these teams, we are also expanding our role into engineering services.”

Splinter added that the company has grown in India with help from strategic partners such as Satyam Computer, Wipro, Mindtek, and TCS, and is opening a new facility wherein all the resources would be pooled. “Ours is a low capital intensive company and we would invest all that is required to further consolidate our Indian operations,” he said.

“The Indian technology industry is buoyant and the time is just right for setting up semiconductor companies. India has significant advantages right from large international technology community; fab engineering capability, strong currency and IP is protected. There is no reason for this sector not to grow if the right investments take place,” he said.