Indra signs IT management contract with Ecopetrol

Spanish IT firm Indra has signed a four-year contract to manage the basic IT services and systems of Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), Indra said in a statement without disclosing the deal's value. The contract includes operating and maintaining all technical basic services and systems, and hardware infrastructure. It comprises the company's more than 400 financial, administrative and business applications. Indra will offer a unified management model to optimize Ecopetrol's resources, reduce costs and improve quality of the service. The services under the contract cover Ecopetrol's offices in Colombia, but they could be extended for the entire group at a national and international level. Indra has been Ecopetrol's technology partner since 2008. In the utilities and energy markets, the company has developed projects for Grupo Pisa, Endesa and Gas Natural Fenosa. Ecopetrol engages in oil and gas exploration and production, refining and petrochemicals, and oil and gas transportation activities. The government holds an 89.9% stake in the firm. Indra offers services that range from consultancy, project development, and systems and applications integration to outsourcing of IT systems and business processes. The corporation covers six vertical markets - security and defense, transport and traffic, energy and industry, telecom and media, finance and insurance, and public administration and healthcare.