New Delhi:Information technology services provider HCL Technologies Ltd (HCL) has set up a new global development centre in Sydney as a part of its expansion plan in Australia and New Zealand, the company announced Thursday.

With total staff strength of over 500, the Sydney centre is part of HCL's global delivery strategy to offer customers support from various locations across the globe.

At present, HCL has delivery centres in India, China, Poland, Singapore and Ireland and has recently announced plans to open another in North Carolina, U.S..

"We have been experiencing 80 percent growth year-on-year in the Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand regions this year and expect this to continue," said Brian Pereira, HCL's head of operations in Australia and New Zealand.

The Sydney expansion follows the opening of an office in Canberra in May 2007.

HCL will also establish an office in Melbourne to support customers' research and development needs.

The company also announced its partnership with the Australian Computer Society and the Australian Graduate School of Management and Melbourne Business school for the development of skilled staff in this region.