BearingPoint Inc, one of the world's largest business consulting and systems integration firms (formerly named KPMG Consulting Inc), has said it will hire 2,000 workers at its new global development centre in Chennai.

The Mclean, Virginia-based company said its Chennai development center is already fully operational. The company said it may employ 1,000 more in India if demand is strong enough.

"This global development centre in India is a key component of BearingPoint's AnyShore global strategy of bringing the best service to clients," said BearingPoint Chairman and CEO Rand Blazer, in a media statement.

Covansys Corp is helping to run the site. Another is planned in Bangalore.

Siddharth A Pai will be the managing director, BearingPoint India global development centre.

"Covansys is proud to have been selected by a world leader such as BearingPoint to assist them with the opening and operation of their first Global Development Center in India," said Martin C Clague, president and CEO, Covansys.

"We look forward to working with BearingPoint to help their clients reap the same competitive advantages of offshore outsourcing that Covansys clients have been enjoying for more than a decade -- rapid deployment, world-class quality and reduced costs."

Many US companies have been hiring staff in India and moving their back-office operations to India and other low-wage nations to save costs.

BearingPoint said its Chennai center will handle software development, integration and maintenance. The company also said that the opening up of the new centre and the hiring of over 2,000 employees will not affect its current workforce.