Minister Rob Davies arrives in UK to launch revised business process services incentive

The Minister of Trade and Industry (dti), Dr Rob Davies has arrived in the United Kingdom where he will be launching the revised Business Process Services (BPS) incentive at South Africa House in London tomorrow, 14 October 2014.

Davies says that the revised incentive will further support the South African Value Proposition, which has seen South Africa named the best "Offshoring Destination 2012" by the UK's National Outsourcing Association (NOA), followed by an award from the European Outsourcing Association in 2013 and in 2014 an award for its Skills Development Programme at the NOA Outsourcing Professional Awards.

He adds that South Africa has risen to rank among the top three global offshore locations that can provide quality English language skills, and excellent writing skills, on a large scale.

The South African government, through the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), provides strategic support by way of substantial incentive grants to reduce operating costs for BPS service providers.

Minister Davies says that the BPS incentive aims to attract investment and create employment in South Africa through off-shoring activities.

"These incentive grants are calculated on the number of projected offshore jobs to be created based on a tapering scale and is awarded on actual offshore jobs created. The revised Business Process Services incentive scheme, will build upon the success of the previous scheme which led to the creation of 9 077 jobs on the back of financial disbursements of R587 million," adds Davies.

Besides financial incentives, the dti offers a facilitation service for prospective and current investors which allows seamless entry into the country from an investment perspective.

While in the UK Minister Davies' programme will include meetings with leading UK investors in the South African offshoring BPS sector, the UK Minister of Africa, Mr James Durridge and Baroness Patricia Scotland, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for South Africa.

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za