South Africa cemented its position as one of the key players in the Business Process Outsourcing and Offshoring (BPO&O) global arena during the BPO Week conference that is currently underway at the Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
“BPO&O is one of the key priorities identified in the industrial policy and government has made a high-profile, long-term commitment to the offshoring industry, resulting in strong investor support and sustainable reductions in costs over the next several years,” said Nimrod Zalk, Deputy Director-General of the Industrial Development Division at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti).
The conference is a joint initiative between government (the dti) and the industry organisation, Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) for the benefit of the sector. It seeks to address amongst other issues:
* South Africa’s BPO value proposition
* Deepening and developing a pool of internationally competitive talent
* Creating an enabling environment to encourage investment
* Highlighting challenges, achievements and key plans for the sector.
Despite the challenges that include the high costs of telecommunication, the sector continues to contribute vastly to the economy of the country. There has been a commitment to create 24 871 jobs by 25 investors who have benefited from the dti’s BPO incentive scheme. A total of R1.7 billion worth of investments created over a period of three years.
South Africa offers a high quality, low cost destination for offshoring business processes, in a stable investment environment supported by world class infrastructure.
Pumela Salela, Director of BPO at the dti, said South Africa’s BPO potential is premised in its strength and growth in the Banking, Financial and Insurance (BFSI) industry verticals.
“We have successfully managed to attract four of the world’s top players in the BPO space within the last three years, namely TeleTech, Aegis, Teleperformance and Genpact,” added Salela.
Future projects include:
* The establishment of a BPO park that will cater for “plug and play” facilities, training and development, international investors, proof of concept, Small, Medium Micro-Economic (SMME) incubation
* Talent development initiatives that will cover training needs across all levels.
The week long conference will end on Saturday, 21 November 2009 with an economic breakfast at the Radisson Blu Hotel and the BPESA’s Annual African Stars Awards Gala Dinner at the Feather Market Hall in Port Elizabeth.
For further information contact:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Lillian Mofokeng
Cell: 082 888 8362
E-mail: lmofokeng@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
19 November 2009
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.za/)
