Cisco chairman & CEO John Chambers is getting ready for a second innings. Having driven Cisco through its heady growth phase in the 1990s, he expects to script another growth story riding the Internet’s second boom. Counted among technology’s biggest success stories, the $34.9-billion networking giant has already swallowed 11 companies this year and plugging into emerging markets like India and China will be key to its success. During his Indo-China tour next week, Chambers will inaugurate Cisco’s Bangalore-based globalisation centre. In an email interview with , Chambers dwells on his plans to tap into Web 2.0 and new growth markets like India. Excerpts:

Your investment of $1 billion announced for over three years, ran out in two. Can we expect a bigger investment this time?

Our commitment to India is strategic and long-term. We will continue to invest in this vital globalisation hub and improve our capabilities to tap the domestic opportunity.

Your chief globalisation officer, Wim Elfrink, has been talking about 20 per cent of Cisco’s top global talent being based in India in 3 years. Do you see a future Cisco CEO from India?

We will continue to focus on “skill incubation” and not just talent acquisition. Our goal is to base 20 per cent of our top talent in India in few years. Our vision is to utilise India as a platform to globalise and Cisco’s worldwide functions requires us to scale up and add talent at all levels in the organisation.

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