One of Halifax’s longest-standing and largest technology employers, CGI, is looking to expand operations locally.

CGI has signed a seven-year incentive agreement with Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) to encourage the company to invest and hire in Nova Scotia.

“Nova Scotia continues to be a great place for us to do business and supports our company’s global growth strategy,” said Jay MacIsaac, CGI senior vice-president for the Atlantic provinces.

CGI must create at least five full-time equivalent positions in the first year of the agreement to be eligible to earn a rebate on new payroll, to a maximum of 450 positions.

Over the seven years, CGI would add over $126 million in salary, if it creates 450 new positions. Employees would pay provincial personal income taxes of about $14.2 million. The company would earn up to $10,836,000 in payroll rebates through NSBI’s Strategic Investment Funds.

Part of the incentive encourages the company to hire new graduates of Nova Scotia universities and help attract skilled professionals to live and work in the province. It will help the company with the cost of recruiting and relocating qualified candidates.

Last year, CGI was recognized as International Business of the Year at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Business Awards.

“CGI’s further expansion reinforces the province’s strength as a destination of choice for technology companies,” said Peter MacAskill, vice-president of NSBI. “Nova Scotia offers companies competitive, high-value critical development in a location closer to key markets and global headquarters.”

Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world. About 68,000 professionals serve thousands of global clients from offices and delivery centers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

For more information on CGI and new job opportunities, visit www.cgi.com .

Source: Release