AT THE TECH source OF BUSINESS
Its low labor costs, English-speaking population, and business friendly government make the RAMON P. SALES Philippines ideal for investors in the information and communications technology (lCT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors. President Arroyo's administration has signaled a strong desire to see the country's high-tech industries compete with regional leaders like Malaysia and Singapore.
Ramon P. Sales, Chairman of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), comments, "The government is devoted to a multi-stakeholder approach to ICT, and a people-centered, inclusive and development oriented information society, where everyone can access, utilize and share information." ln January, CICT kicked off the "Philippines Computer for All" initiative aimed, at providing Filipinos with low-cost PCs and internet access. Stunning growth of the country's BPO industries has put it well on track to becoming an ICT hub. In 2005, the nation's BPO sector generated revenue of more than $1.1 billion, up from just $24 million in 2000, with some analysts expecting it to top $10 billion by 201 O.
Bong M. Borja, the Chairman of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, believes the nation's top asset is people themselves. Indeed, Filipinos generally speak unaccented English and are well educated on U.S. culture and customs, attracting the BPO operations of major companies such as Dell, AIG, and Intel.