After having started BPO operations in Romania through Wipro Infotech, Group chairman Azim Premji hopes to follow up soon by moving some of the software development activity to that country.

"We want to bring the software development unit to Romania. The next step will be to bring the technological infrastructure unit atleast. This could happen within the next three to six months," Premji was quoted as saying by local newspapers in Bucharest.

Wipro Infotech moved a BPO function, currently employing 150 people, to Romania because of the lower costs and the requisite language skills present in Bucharest. "At present, we're looking at other cities to open the second BPO centre," Premji was quoted as saying by the Zairul Financiar newspaper of Romania.

However, Premji warned that growing wage costs could reduce Romania's lure to the investors. Even though Romania's wage base is much lower, these wage increases (by 15-20%) will shortly turn you into an expensive location," says Premji, adding Bucharest is three times more expensive at present than India as regards costs per employee.

However, he insisted that Wipro would increase their staff strength in Romania from the present 150 to about 400 within the next one year. Premji also insisted that if asked to choose another venue for his BPO centres, he would go for Romania.