Danish company Vestas Wind Systems, the world’s leading supplier of wind power solutions, today announces the opening of the Vestas Information Technology (IT) hub in the Philippines, one of its four IT centres across the globe including Denmark , Singapore and the USA .

The Vestas Services Philippines Inc, which is the registered name for the information technology hub, will support Vestas’ global team with IT operations & support including surveillance, service desk, operations, support and programming competencies. The local IT Hub staff will be fully integrated into the Vestas IT value chain and will have access to global tools and methodologies in Vestas’ Group IT.

Located at Makati City and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Vestas’ new IT hub employs approximately 25 IT professionals and expects to ramp up its work force to 100 employees by the end of the year and to reach 200 employees by end of 2011. This makes it the biggest IT hub in Vestas outside Randers , Denmark .

“The opening of our IT hub in the Philippines will make it possible for Vestas IT to streamline its global IT services throughout Vestas’ business and enable us to operate our IT reliant business areas more efficiently,” said Torben Bonde, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Vestas Wind Systems A/S.

Among other important criteria such as government support and infrastructure, Manila was chosen as the location for the new Vestas IT hub because of the skills and competencies of the local workforce.

“Filipino IT professionals’ quality of education, professional experience, cultural adaptability and good communication skills, make them a welcome addition to our global Group IT organisation. Vestas is confident that with the capabilities and expertise of Filipinos, the Manila IT hub will provide valuable support to our global IT operations together with our IT employees in Denmark, Singapore and the USA,” added Torben Bonde.

The establishment of the Vestas Manila IT hub will support Vestas’ goal to accelerate its capabilities in harnessing wind power, a highly viable solution to the world’s long-term energy demands. The sharp rise in energy consumption calls for a sustainable resource that does not create more greenhouse gases, pollution or waste for future generations. Wind power is a renewable, predictable and clean source of energy. In addition, substantial capacity can be built up quickly, offering the energy independence demanded by the world's largest and fastest-growing economies.

Vestas installed its first wind turbine in 1979 and has since played an active role in the fast-moving wind power industry. From being a pioneer in the industry with a staff of approximately 60 in 1987, we are today a global, market-leading group with over 20,000 people employed. Vestas’ core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind technology that uses the energy of the wind to generate electricity. Our expertise in Modern Energy covers more than just wind turbines. We specialise in planning, installation, operation and maintenance. Our competencies cover everything from site studies to service and maintenance.

Vestas Asia Pacific is the Asia Pacific business unit of Vestas, the world leader in wind technology. Its Asia Pacific head office is located in Singapore and has sales and service offices in Korea , India , Australia , New Zealand , Japan , Taiwan and the Philippines . Vestas has by 2009 a cumulative installed capacity of 33 MW in the Philippines.