Bangalore, Nov 04: American software product major BMC Software Company today announced plans to double its strength in India to 500 professionals and invest USD 3 million, besides doing business process outsourcing from its Indian operations this fiscal. "We are aiming to break into 500 professionals in the next two quarters. It can grow further depending on the success here. We are also exploring BPO opportunities from India," BMC software president and chief executive officer Robert E Beauchamp said.

He was delivering the keynote address on "India as a product destination" at the product and embedded software summit 2003, organised by NASSCOM at "Bangalore it.Com" event. Beauchamp said the company was in discussion with several leading it service providers in the country to explore further the domestic market for its products.

"We are looking at investing over USD 3 million in this financial year to increase offshore research and development activities. We hope to achieve our target of an annual business turnover of USD 15 million from the country by the end of this financial year," he said.

The USD 1.3 billion BMC, which set up operations at Pune in 2001, has so far invested USD 1.8 million in India. Bureau Report