Gurgaon (Haryana), Dec.1 (ANI-Business Wire India): In another strategic move that allows for broader global coverage and language support, Annik, one of the leading research outsourcing companies in India, has started operations in China.

The Shanghai facility will service three major Asian markets - Japan, China and Korea - with local language support capabilities.

This strategic investment allows Annik's customers to expand their scope of work with Annik.

China has been seen as a strategic location both in terms of the domestic market and the ability to provide support in multiple Asian languages by many large companies.

This center is the first initiative in providing such operational capabilities across Asian geographies and languages. Annik has been providing support for some western European languages from the India center.

The Shanghai center adds Japanese, Mandarin and Korean to the list of languages now supported by Annik and provides the company an established footprint in key markets where it expects growth for its services.

The Shanghai facility is fully operational and can scale up as required by our customers. "Our customers are all around the world. This operational model helps us provide regional services and quicker turnaround", says Sandeep Bhatia (COO).

"As we grow, we will look at an ideal mix of onshore and offshore talent to optimize our service delivery model".

Commenting on this move, Rahul Sahgal, CEO of Annik said "We are proud of this important milestone in the growth of the company. This expansion reaffirms our commitment to our clients to expand our scope and coverage from purely English and Western European countries to other strategically important markets where there is tremendous opportunity for growth of Annik services".

On another note, Annik has been named one of the Fast 50 Technology companies in India in a study conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. This is the second time in 3 years that it has been recognized for this award. It has also been selected in the Fast 500 Technology companies for the entire Asia Pacific region three years in a row.

Founded in 2000, Annik has been a pioneer in Market Research Outsourcing and Data Analytics in India. Known for domain expertise and technical knowledge providing creative solutions, Annik has helped researchers work more efficiently and effectively.

With more than 400 employees and 24 x 7 operations, we are in a unique position to support clients around the world.(ANI)

London, November 21 (ANI/Business Wire India): SmartStream Technologies, the transaction lifecycle management specialist, announced the opening of its new development centre in Mumbai to further expand the company's offshore software development operations.

SmartStream's Indian operation forms a critical part of the company's established development centres located in the UK and Austria. The relocation to larger premises at the heart of an area renowned for IT and technology development is part of SmartStream's significant and ongoing investment in its software development operations.

With the company's sustained growth a greater proportion of new solution development work is being run out of India, necessitating the move to larger premises. The Mumbai Development Centre is tasked with accelerating the time to market for new TLM solutions enabling SmartStream to rapidly respond to customers' evolving operational requirements. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): With the aim of enhancing co-operation between India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) in the field of small industries, the third tri-nation summit for small business development began here today.

Inaugurating the Summit the Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shri Mahabir Prasad raised hope that the summit will help the small industries of IBSA countries to meet global challenges.

The Minister said that in order to achieve this objective, it is essential to have synergy between the complimentary strengths of MSMEs of these three countries. This synergy will not only improve the competitiveness of small enterprises but will also enable them to enhance their participation in global market.

Stating that the government is preferring promotional approach to protection approach for MSMEs, Prasad said that the Government, in the post reform period, has taken many steps to build up their competitive strengths and improve their product quality.

India, Brazil and South Africa share a similar economic atmosphere and have stood together on various multilateral forums.

The delegates from the participating countries are hopeful that the tri-nation summit will provide a platform for meaningful business linkage between small enterprises of the three countries.

55 delegates representing Brazil and South Africa are participating in this important programme. After a series of successful talks organized earlier in South Africa and Brazil the third tri-nation summit promises to strengthen the existing relationship between the IBSA countries. (ANI)

London, Nov.19 (ANI): Woolworths, one of the United Kingdom's largest retailers with 800 shops, is in talks to sell its troubled retail arm to restructuring specialist Hilco.

According to The Telegraph, the talks are still at a "very early stage".

Any deal is likely to see the retail business sold to Hilco for a nominal sum. But even if Hilco and the Woolworths board can agree on a deal they will also have to secure the support of the retailer's lenders, the paper said.

Although best known for its retail business the group's media and distribution businesses - DVD publisher 2entertain and EUK, a specialist distributor - generate the majority of the group's profits.

Hilco specialises in restructuring retail businesses. Earlier this year it bought fashion chain Mk One. Three weeks after acquiring the business Hilco placed the chain into administration. Hilco were also involved in the recent restructuring of MFI. (ANI)