Press Release
November 5, 2007

ROXAS CONFIDENT 2010 BPO ROADMAP TO BE ACHIEVED

Senator Mar Roxas expressed confidence that the country's business process outsourcing industry can increase its revenues and work force fourfold in four years, as projected by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

"We have the best people in the BPO industry on our side. As big an influence as they have already played in our economy, I foresee even greater things ahead," said Roxas.

The BPAP launched today its report entitled "Offshoring and Outsourcing in the Philippines: Roadmap 2010" at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. In the report, the association has targeted to increase its size to a 900,000-strong work force and $13 billion in revenues by 2010.

"I am positive we can achieve the targets found in the 2010 roadmap if we maintain the discipline and perseverance that we have already shown in years past," Roxas, the chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, added.

As former secretary of Trade and Industry, Roxas oversaw and encouraged the growth of the BPO industry, which back in 2000 was "the best-kept secret in town," only having 1,500 people and revenues of $24 million. A "first wave" resulted leading to a "tsunami of jobs and profits for a struggling economy."

On November 8, 2004, the BPAP was born, bringing about a "second wave" wherein the BPO work force increased to 230,000 and revenues increased to $3 billion by 2006.

"We are now riding the crest of that second wave, knowing that a bigger, more powerful wave is just around the corner," Roxas said.

He expressed agreement with the BPAP's recommendations to disperse investments nationwide, and to tap retirees, housewives, OFW returnees and other individuals as potential employees of the "new wave."

He also hoped the government would follow the BPAP's call to improve and refine its assessment and training programs, as well as introduce educational reforms to improve English proficiency.

"You can certainly count on my support for this roadmap to 2010 and beyond," Roxas said.

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