Companies in Australia and New Zealand have displayed an “overwhelming interest” in the Philippines’ information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry, according to Filipino trade mission delegates.
In a statement, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) noted that Philippine firms were able to showcase the country’s capabilities in the IT-BPM industry during the Cebit 2013, the world’s largest international computer expo held recently in Australia. Another Filipino trade mission also stood out during a networking and business-matching event organized by the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) office.
IBPAP president and CEO Jose Mari Mercado reported a higher-than-expected turnout for a forum held by the Philippine delegation during the CeBIT 2013.
“The fact that we had a packed room and had to start early was a good indicator of interest. The Philippine IT-BPM industry has an effective value proposition. We can provide what they need and help improve their respective sectors,” Mercado said.
Nearly 400 business representatives from Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, among others, visited the Philippine booth at CeBIT 2013.
Up to 60 percent of visitors represented small- to medium-sized enterprises that sought assistance for expansion through various partnerships, while 20 percent were considering the possibility of investing in the Philippines, IBPAP claimed.
In New Zealand, 12 companies expressed their interest to explore opportunities in the Philippines. At least two companies are reportedly making plans to visit the country this year.
“As the third largest English-speaking country with a literacy rate of 93 percent, the Philippines is consistently the preferred destination for voice services in customer care, technical support, financial services, sales, and collections. We expect more growth in the areas of finance, accounting, software development, and IT, among other high-value services,” said Patricia Abejo, director of ICT industry development at the Department of Science and Technology.