Chennai: Multinational coffee chain Starbucks plans to hire about 800 employees in Tamil Nadu for the initial phase of its first technology hub in India.




The US-based company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) Monday with the state government to open a global capability centre (GCC) in Chennai that will run independently of its retail business joint venture in India with .




The MoU was signed between Starbucks Coffee and Guidance, the state government's nodal agency under the industries department, in the presence of chief minister C Joseph Vijay. Anand Varadarajan, chief technology officer, Starbucks Coffee, said India is an important market for the company and that Chennai has a large pool of skilled technology professionals, relatively low attrition, strong infrastructure and incentives offered by the state government. These factors would help the company develop new solutions and expand its business, he said.




"We just brewed something strong," S Keerthana, Tamil Nadu industries minister, said in a post on X. "Tamil Nadu x Starbucks, a partnership blended to perfection. Delighted to welcome Starbucks GCC to Tamil Nadu."




"Another global brand choosing Tamil Nadu for its talent, technology, and good governance," the minister said. "From rich filter kaapi to Starbucks, Tamil Nadu's story is going global."




Chief minister Vijay said the state government is delighted with Starbucks' decision to pick Chennai for its GCC. The confidence shown by a globally renowned company in Tamil Nadu is a recognition of the capabilities of the state's youth, he said.




The investment will also demonstrate Tamil Nadu's attractiveness as a destination for other high-quality companies, he said.