Abdullah paid a lightning visit toADL, to meet some of the 630 Indian Information Technology (IT) experts employed by the company in Cyprus to design and programme software for dozens of telecommunications firms around the world.

Underscoring the traditionally close friendship formed between Cyprus and India through the heyday of the Non-Aligned Movement, Abdullah said the thrust of his two-day official visit to the island was to bolster weak trade links.

"Relations between India and Cyprus couldn't be better. Cyprus has supported us on every crucial issue, but eco­nomic ties and people-to-peo­ple contact haven't been as good as they should be," said Abdullah.

India has consistently pledged its unflinching support to the Cyprus government, while fully backing UN resolutions on Cyprus. And Cyprus is India's staunchest supporter in its bid to become a permanent UN Security Council member.

Staying true to form, Abdul­lah re-affirmed his country's "deep commitment" to the island's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity following a meeting on Monday with For­eign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides.

But business stole the lime-light from politics on this visit, as Abdullah came ready to talk seriously. The 31-year-old Indi­an official and Finance Minister Takis Klerides on Tuesday signed an agreement to spur bilateral investment.

That's why Trade Minister Nicos Rolandis will fly to India next week for a tour of IT com­panies in Bangalore and Bom­bay, which Abdullah pro­claimed "the future of coopera­tion" between the two coun­tries.

"India is glad to see that it is now very much a partner in Cyprus' new endeavour to develop the IT industry in this country," said Abdullah.

With an ironclad reputation of churning out millions of high­ly-prized IT specialists working at the world's top high-tech centres like California's Silicon Valley, Cyprus stands to gain a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field.

"Cyprus can benefit from India's know-how in engineer­ing and IT in which India sets an example for the world," said Klerides.

India, on the other hand, sees the island's eventual membership to the European Union and location at the cross­roads of three continents as a golden opportunity for Indian businesses to penetrate into new markets.

Abdullah revealed to Amdocs employees - repre­senting a cross-section of India's cultural mosaic includ­ing Hindus, Tamils and Punjabis - that a deal could be in the offering for Cyprus Airways to fly non-stop from Larnaca to Bom­bay.

"Keep your fingers crossed, we'll hopefully have something by the end of this year," Abdul­lah told a delighted crowd applauding the news that could save them the hassle of switch­ing flights in London and Dubai.

ADL Managing Director Artz Benkuzari, told The Cyprus Weekly that the US-owned company seeks out Indians because of the country's tradi­tion of producing top-notch IT experts.

Most of ADL's Indian employees - locked to three-year renewable contracts - are recent university graduates, single and in their mid to late 20s and early thirties.

Unburdened by commitments tying them down to India thev have more options to work abroad, especially at a company like ADL which Benkuzari said offers plenty of opportunity to rise through the ranks.

"I came here for the opportu­nity to advance my career," said a 26-year-old Indian woman, who has been working at ADL for over two years.

But Benkuzari insisted that does not necessarily preclude the company from taking on Cypriot labour.

"I would like to have hundreds of Cypriots working for us here. It's easier for us and more convenient. But the issue is that there are not many Cypriot IT professionals," he said.

ADL currently employs 70 Cypriot staff paid an undis­closed salary on par with their Indian colleagues, although Benkuzari conceded that for­eign employees are offered benefits and incentives to get them to sign on with the compa­ny.

Touting ADL as the first high-tech offshore company to open its doors in Cyprus, Benkuzari urged the government to mount a more vigorous campaign to attract more IT companies to the island.

"If ten companies like us came to Cyprus, they would pour half a billion dollars into the local economy….Cyprus has to attract more Information Tech­nology companies," he said.

Although exact figures are not readily available because of the island's Bank secrecy laws, it is estimated that over 35,000 offshore companies are regis­tered in Cyprus generating £200m annually for the econo­my.

Benkuzari said the company poured over £25 m into the local economy last year and projects that it will pour another £33 in 2002.

"We bought all our equip­ment in Cyprus, we rent several offices on the island, the cars that our employees drive were bought here, this is all money going back into the Cyprus economy," he said.

ADL is one of Amdocs' many development centres around the world employing some 10.000 people in countries such as the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, Brazil and Israel.

Amdocs Limited reported an annual revenue of £1 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001.

The 20-year-old company specialises in customer care and billing systems for telecoms providers. In layman's terms, its software calculates the bills fixed and mobile tele­phone users receive every month.

Amdocs also produces sales and publishing systems for directory companies.

The company has installed over 250 such sys­tems in more than 70 leading telecoms companies around the world, including US giant Verizon.