Speaking at the launch, Symantec Asia-Pacific vice president Garry Sexton said India is a priority market for Symantec with huge growth potential for the future.

"The establishing of a relationship with GPTL and the wider availability of our products reflects our commitment to establishing a greater presence in the market," he said.

"Through our partnership with GPTL we are able to utilise their local market expertise to ensure Symantec's leading solutions are widely available to both corporate and individuals around the country," Sexton said.

GPTL chief executive officer Shailender Gupta said, "Expansion into the Indian market strengthens Symantec's position in the region. Symantec now has representation in all the key markets in Asia-Pacific with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland,Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo."

To ensure a smooth entrance into the Indian market, Symantec will leverage its success in other Asia Pacific markets by adapting a policy of building the business based on the needs of the local market.

Gupta said the partnership with GPTL is part of Symantec Asia Pacific's marketing and distribution strategy for the South-east Asia region. The company has a regional alliance with Tech Pacific, which in turn has an equity stake in GPTL.

Symantec is represented by Tech Pacific in all the markets it operates in and around the Asia-Pacific region. As long term partners with Tech Pacific the company works successfully together in each market to identify and meet the needs of local customers.

GPTL, a joint venture between Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd and Tech Pacific, Australia is the largest IT distribution company in India. GPTL has distribution agreement with many of the world's leading hardware and softwarevendors.

It has maintained the most favoured distributor statues in the Indian market due to its proven track record. With a turnover of Rs 442 crore, GPTL is rated as number seven among all Indian it companies, Gupta said.