HYDERABAD, India (AP) -- U.S. software technology company CA Inc. on Wednesday opened a software development center near the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.

The center, built at a cost of $30 million, will employ about 1,600 engineers and serve the company's clients worldwide, CEO and President John Swainson said.

CA, based in Islandia, New York, was formerly known as Computer Associates.

The employees at the India center will account for more than 30 percent of CA's global engineering work force.

"We opened this facility to take advantage of the talent that is here," Swainson said.

Scores of western technology companies have set up research and development centers in India, where wages are low and skilled workers are easily available.