Thursday, August 28, 2008 3T call center seats this year possible: exec
THE ICT Davao Inc., the umbrella association of all ICT-enabled associations in Davao Region, is confident that the BPO industry here will hit the target of at least 3,000 seats for call centers towards the end of the year.
Bert Barriga, vice president for external affairs of the ICT Davao Inc., said Wednesday that the BPO industry, particularly the call center companies in the city, has already reached 2,500 seats as of this month, making it possible to achieve the 3,000-seat target this year.
"There are foreign groups who are willing to put up call centers here. There are two American groups and one Australian group," Barriga said, adding that the Australian group is scheduled to visit the city on September 15.
He added that these groups have tagged the city as a very potential site for their operations.
"The Australian group wants to position themselves before this year ends," Barriga said.
Barriga, however, refused to reveal the total investment to be poured in by these contact center companies.
He said that during the BPO property forum held February this year, 80 percent of the property owners in Davao City are willing to rebuild their areas to pave the way for the coming of the potential BPO locators.
"There are 12 identified property owners in the city who joined the forum. Eighty percent of them are willing to retrofit their areas, we are grateful that the commitment is already there," said Barriga.
According to him, there are already 18 big and small call center companies in Davao City. Seven of them are considered big call centers such as the CyberCity, Sutherland, Concentrix (formerly Link2Support), the Western Wats, Callbox, Qualiserve, and Global Connect. (JGRS)
