Networking giant targets significant local hiring while rolling out critical sovereign tech across the region.
Cisco is set to scale up its silicon design presence in India as part of a broader push to capitalise on the nation’s rapid economic growth and vast engineering talent, according to Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins.
Speaking in an interview with PTI, Robbins highlighted India alongside the Middle East as the company’s highest-growth markets outside the United States. He praised the country’s pro-growth economic strategy and strong GDP performance, noting that its unique combination of scale, ambition, and manufacturing capability makes it a key strategic hub for Cisco’s global operations.
Cisco plans to expand its local chip design team—which currently operates alongside major engineering hubs in Israel and the US—by tapping into India’s extensive pool of skilled talent. In addition to expanding its design capabilities, Cisco intends to introduce its suite of ‘sovereign critical technology’ to India over the coming months, following previous deployments in Europe and Canada.
The CEO also described Cisco’s local manufacturing momentum as “meaningful”, indicating that future growth is largely a matter of identifying and onboarding the right local talent within its existing operational framework. Robbins reaffirmed that while the US remains Cisco’s primary market today, India’s long-term focus on engineering and tech infrastructure positions it as a key pillar for the firm’s global growth trajectory moving forward.
