Tencent has begun official operation of its newly built research and development center in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, reports qq.com quoting Tencent CEO Pony Ma.
Founded in November, 1998, Tencent has grown into China’s largest and most used Internet service portal.
Seven hundred employees started moving in to the center over the past few days.
The report states the company plans to recruit another 300 staff for the R&D center in 2009, and boost staff by 30% year-on-year in both 2010 and 2011.
Tencent has announced its plan to invest RMB 550 million in a 48,000-square meter compound that will house the R&D center along with information management and customer service in May 2008.