infosys news 27dec01

citation far eastern economic review

HI-TECH COMPANIES are hitting rock bottom all over the world, but Infosys Technologies has still managed to come out on top of this year's survey of India's best companies.

It's no surprise. Infosys continues to post strong growth despite the tough business environment, and to consolidate its reputation as the country's premier software firm. In the six months to the end of September, its revenues grew 50% and profits rose 35%.

Still, trying times lie ahead. Chairman and CEO Narayana Murthy says Infosys is trimming its costs and adjusting its sales pitch in response to what today's managers want: to save money and to ensure returns on any new investment. To that end, he says, Infosys is concentrating on industries in which it has developed special expertise, such as banking and health care.

It is also looking at China, where it may eventually tap local software engineers to service domestic and overseas clients. Murthy acknowledges it's a risky gambit, but one worth taking. "Ships are safest in the harbour," he says with a smile, "but they don't belong there."