The groundbreaking for the center in the eastern city of Nanjing follows Satyam's announcement of plans for a software development center in Malaysia. Both are part of the company's effort to evolve into a global company, according to Virender Aggarwal, the company's senior vice president and regional director.

Hyderabad-based Satyam's expansion is aimed partly at offsetting rising costs in India and at developing a base of skilled workers, Aggarwal said in a phone interview.

Like other Indian outsourcing companies, Satyam is trying to win clients outside the United States and Europe, looking to China, Australia and Latin America to diversify risks and build markets.

"China is one of the largest economies in the world and is likely to be the No. 2 economy in 20 years or so. It is very important that we are here," he said.

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