The Hindu Business Line : Jones Lang LaSalle opens office in Pune

REAL estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle today announced the opening of its office in Pune and said it will provide the entire portfolio of real estate management, implementation, investment management, retail advisory, strategic consulting and financial advisory services in the city.

Speaking on the prospects of Pune as a commercial hub, the Country Head, Mr Vincent Lottefier, said: "Pune has been fast emerging as a leading investment destination especially for IT and ITES companies, and backed by its traditional base of manufacturing, we are confident that it will soon become one of the most important commercial hubs in India".

The company, which currently has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahmedabad, is now charting out expansion plans for which it is on a recruitment drive, Mr Lotefier said pointing out that over the next couple of years head count will go up from the current level of 800 to 3,000.

In 2005, Jones Lang LaSalle India transacted over eight million square feet of office space across eight cities for various institutional investors, global firms and local corporates.

Talking about the Indian market, Mr Lottefier said: "India is a hotspot for many multinational corporations from around the world, in particular those looking to offshore their activities to a low-cost market. With our global network, with operations in more than 100 markets and extensive local knowledge, our firm is well-positioned to guide our MNC clients as they move and expand into India. Looking ahead, we will continue to assess and leverage on opportunities in India and ensure that we continue to uphold our service delivery and extend our market reach to cater to our clients' evolving needs".