Japanese investors eye call center in Silay City
Posted September 23, 2008MANILA, Philippines -- A group of Japanese investors are looking at setting up call centers in Silay City in Negros Occidental province, a local official told INQUIRER.net.
A report from outsourcing research firm Callcentres.net said a group of Japanese investors from partner firms Masterpiece Group and local partner Nomura Securities Philippines recently met with Mayor Jose Montelibano to discuss their intent to invest in Silay.
The proposed call centers would cater to Japanese, Chinese and English-speaking clients, the report said.
City councilor Mike Maravilla confirmed via telephone the meeting with Japanese investors, although he noted that plans are yet to be finalized.
Silay is categorized as a second-class city and is located north of the provincial capital of Bacolod. It is also the site of the new Bacolod-Silay International airport.
Maravilla said an area near the new airport is being developed as an investment site for IT-related industries and has a pending application with PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) to become an economic zone.
"Our thrust is to attract IT-related investments but we need to have adequate infrastructure first. Once approved, telcos have already committed to improve connectivity in Silay," Maravilla said.
A number of call center operators, including Convergys and Teletech, have already set up in Bacolod.
Source: INQUIRER.net, September 23, 2008
By Lawrence Casiraya
