Data storage giant EMC Corp. will invest $100 million over the next four years in a new research and development center in St. Petersburg, Russia.

EMC currently employs about 100 people in St. Petersburg and Moscow, but plans to increase the number to 250 by year-end.

“We opened our subsidiary there in 2000,” said EMC spokesman Greg Eden. But now, in response to booming sales growth in Russia, and a good supply of well-trained technical workers, “we are making a significant commitment to build out our development capabilities there.”

The new development center will open in June 2007, ahead of the St. Petersburg economic forum. The center will be headed by Igor Agamirzyan.

Mr Agamirzyan has been working in the IT for more than 25 years. In 1995 he began working in Microsoft heading software development departments. Lately he worked as a national technology adviser of Microsoft’s Russia and CIS office CEO.

Within the next 3-5 years the company intends to increase revenues outside the US up to 50%.

The company currently has development centers in China, Belgium, India, Ireland, Israel, and the US.

In 2006 EMC invested into research, development, and strategic purchases $4 billion. Revenues from software sales reached $4,2billion in 2006.

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