CHENNAI: Amazon India on Tuesday opened its new office in Chennai - the company's largest in the state and the second largest in the country after the Hyderabad campus. The new facility, a development centre inaugurated by chief minister M K Stalin, spans 18 floors across 8.3 lakh sq ft at the World Trade Centre at Perungudi, is the e-commerce giant's fourth in Tamil Nadu.
It will have around 6,000 employees. Amazon did not specify the current strength in the workspace. While the office will house employees across various Amazon divisions including tech, engineering and customer support, it is expected to play a key role in R&D relating to Amazon's flagship devices including Amazon Echo.
Amazon, whose total office area in Tamil Nadu has now increased to more than 2.1 million sq ft, also has two offices on OMR, Chennai's IT Corridor, and one in Saravanampatti, Coimbatore.
The company first began operations in Tamil Nadu with around 50 people in Chennai in 2005. Now, it has more than 14,000 employees and counts the state as a significant hub.
"The infrastructure developments in Tamil Nadu have been a result of our investment-friendly policies and commitment to create new jobs for the talent pool in the state. We believe the launch of Amazon's new office in Chennai will have a multiplier effect on the state's economy," chief minister Stalin said.
Vinod Mathews, director of Global Real Estate & Facilities at Amazon, said Tamil Nadu, with its uniquely skilled talent that has led some of the best innovations, has emerged as a critical talent hub for Amazon in India. "The new office is a reaffirmation of our growth and commitment to the state, and we will continue to expand and invest in our employee base in the region to serve our customers and enhance their experience," he said.
Among other modern workspace elements, the new office houses huddle rooms, wellness rooms, inter-faith prayer rooms, mother's room, recreation spaces and a 24-hour multi-cuisine food court accessible to all employees. Besides its development centres, Amazon also has four Fulfilment Centres and three Sort Centres in the state. In 2021, Amazon set up its first devices manufacturing unit in India in Chennai.
