AstraZeneca India Pvt Ltd on Thursday announced an investment of $30 million (Rs 250 crore) to expand its Global Innovation and Technology Center (GITC) in Tamil Nadu.

AstraZeneca has inaugurated its Global Capability Center (GCC) in Chennai, which will be its largest globally. The expansion is aimed at streamlining operations, focusing on efficiency and innovation and expanding 1,300 positions by next year in line with these goals.

The expanded GCC is expected to lead the company to "leverage technologies such as enterprise platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and supply chain analytics to shape healthcare outcomes."

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr TRB Raja, British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott CMG and AstraZeneca's Asia Area Vice President Sylvia Varela were present on the occasion. AstraZeneca's "investment will not only enhance our state's capabilities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, but also promote technological advancement and economic development." Raja said in a statement.

"This new campus will create space for 4000 high quality jobs in Chennai," said TRB Raja Xil.

The GITC facility in Chennai is currently 334,000 square feet of office space in Ramanujan IT City. With AstraZeneca's entry into the landscape, it plans to add about 180,000 square feet over the next six months.

AZIPL is the global competence center of the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company that entered the Indian market nearly 45 years ago. The company developed the much sought-after Covid-19 vaccine, CoviShield. Currently more than 4000 people are working in the country.