A Karnataka government statement said the US company would employ the software professionals at the centre to design and develop its next generation microchip processors and semi-conductors.

"Intel has chosen to locate this state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore against several international competing locations like Malaysia, Taiwan, Russia and China," the statement said.

Bangalore, India's technology hub, is home to more than 1,000 foreign and domestic information technology firms including Dell, Texas Instruments, Cisco, IBM and HP.

A proposal by India's second largest exporter, Infosys Technologies, to expand its current facility in Bangalore at a cost of 1.1 billion rupeesmillion dollars) was also approved.

Two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Co. also got the nod from the government to set up a five billion-rupee facility to make three and four wheelers.

A plan by global biotechnology firm Astra Zeneca's India subsidiary for a research and development centre also got the green signal.

"This centre is for development of anti-TB drugs and other drugs and formulations with an investment of 720 million rupees," the statement said.

Other proposals which the government cleared include India's Himalaya Drug Co.'s research centre and a business outsourcing firm from GMR Group.

SPACE.WIRE