The Punjab Government’s recent moves to secure investments for the State, especially in the information technology and software sectors, suffered a setback with U.S.-headquartered Dell Corporation announcing the shutting down of its facility in Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh.

The sudden announcement by top company officials on Wednesday night has rendered uncertain the future of nearly 1,000 staffers of the IT major. The company has asked its staffers to either opt for its facilities in Bangalore/Hyderabad or quit.

“We were shocked and stunned to hear the sudden announcement by senior company officials who came here. The local management here did not have much idea that the closure would be so sudden,” a Dell staffer told IANS, adding that she did not know where to find a job immediately. Agitated staffers started a protest outside the Mohali centre against the closure move.

The Texas-based Dell Corporation had launched its Mohali centre for international services in 2005. The Mohali centre was providing services such as consumer technology support and customer care for the U.S. market. The facility here had, at one time, hired nearly 1,300 staffers.

The Dell founder and CEO had specially flown in here from the U.S. for the launch of the Mohali facility in 2005.

The Punjab Government and its Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had held a high-profile investment summit in Mohali. Mr. Badal had claimed that investment proposals of nearly Rs.65,000 crore were made at the summit.