IBM aims to boost China headcount by 10 pct/yr

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - IBM, the world's largest technology services company, expects to raise its headcount in mainland China by at least 10 percent annually for the next few years, its country head said on Tuesday.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) currently has more than 10,000 people on contract in mainland China, Henry Chow, Chairman of IBM Greater China Group, told Reuters on the sidelines of a company event.

"I want to get hiring capability to where we are able to hire 100 people a week," Chow said, adding that seasonal fluctuations meant that some periods needed more manpower and some less.

Overall, however, Chow said he expected to see at least a 10 percent increase in the company's China headcount per year.

IBM had 22 branch offices in China at the end of last year and hopes to raise that number to 26 this year, IBM representatives said.