Mumbai: Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Ltd, on Wednesday met with French industry minister Christian Estrosi on Wednesday to discuss the company’s decision earlier this year to close down a French unit of Austria-based subsidiary NewLogi AG that would cost 60 jobs.

According to a Wipro statement released on Thursday, Estrosi reiterated “strong attachment to the fact that all the employees of Sophia’s centre can find again a professional future as quickly as possible, through solutions of employee takeover and/or of company creation carried by employees.” Estrosi had earlier criticized Wipro’s decision to close the unit as the company had availed of €5 million in tax benefits from a research credit scheme.

“Wipro is committed to work with local authorities to encourage local employment regeneration,” the company said in its statement. Mint had reported on 27 October that French semiconductor designer INSIDE Contactless S.A. was in talks with the Indian firm to hire the laid-off employees.