As part of an evolving globalization strategy that spotlights India, Cisco disclosed it will more than triple its workforce there within the next three to five years and has chosen India as the site for a new globalization center.

In a press event today in India, Cisco CEO John Chambers said the company likely would more than triple its workforce in India, from 2,000 now to more than 6,000 over the next several years.

Also, the company announced the appointment of Wim Elfrink as chief globalization officer, who'll be responsible for Cisco's global growth strategy. In his new role, Elfrink will relocate to Bangalore next year. Elfrink will also retain his position as senior VP of customer advocacy and will continue to report to Chambers.

In a comments on Cisco's website, Elfrink said, "We have invested, and will continue to invest, wherever we see opportunity. We will continue to place resources close to the customer and where we find world-class talent."

Elfrink said the new center "will enable Cisco to locate a significant presence in Asia -- a region in which there is high growth potential." Also, all of the company's primary business functions, including sales, business development, finance, HR, marketing, engineering, and customer support will all be represented in India, as well as in the U.S., he said.

Cisco has had operations in India since 1995 and in October 2005 the company announced that it would invest $1.1 billion over the next three years to develop its business activities there.

Cisco's expanding presence in India follows the investment trend of many other technology companies, most notably IBM, which is on a hiring binge there. In March, IBM said it expects to have 55,000 employees there by next year, and some analysts have predicted that headcount could reach more than 100,000 by 2010.

Meanwhile, EDS has said it plans to increase it's workforce of 3,000 in India tenfold by 2008.