Right on top of the league is global FMCG giant Unilever. According to sources in the realty business, it is likely to offshore 2,500 West European jobs to India and a few East European countries.

Outsourcing and India: Complete Coverage

These are likely to cover functions like IT, human resources and finance. While there is a reasonable certainty that the IT services will be relocated to India, a decision will be taken on the rest of the functions in the first quarter of 2006.

In India, the company is eyeing Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai because of their quality backend professional manpower pool. Bangalore already has a Lever back office establishment, Indigo Lever Shared Services.

According to Cushman and Wakefield, the international property consultants, Microsoft plans to double its workforce of its Indian operations in Hyderabad and Bangalore by March 2006. This will take the number of its staff to 3,000.

Offshoring of many of the jobs to Bangalore has resulted in several major real estate deals in the city. Northern Trust Bank has leased approximately 120,000 square feet of office space in RMZ Ecospace on Outer Ring Road.

Caterpillar has leased approximately 120,000 square feet of office space in RMZ NXT at Whitefield.GE Caps has leased approximately 25,000 square feet of office space in Prateek Tech Park at Electronic City.

Among the Indian players, GMR Infrastructure [Get Quote] has purchased approximately 120,000 square feet of office space in IBC Knowledge Park on Bannerghatta Road. HCL [Get Quote] has leased approximately 300,000 square feet of office space in Surya Sapphire at Electronic City.