ExcelAsia gears up for investment boom in Cebu

(Manila, Philippines, October 14, 2008) – With investment booming in Cebu despite the global financial crisis, industry-leading human resource solutions firm ExcelAsia is beefing up its Cebu operations to meet demand for qualified workers.

“We are expanding our services in Cebu by adding training and recruitment rooms to process an expected increase in trainees sent to us by our clients. We also plan to expand our business development team there,” ExcelAsia President Rita Trillo-Ugarte said. “Following through on these plans is very important for us because our clients expect it and we want to capitalize on the investment boom in Cebu.”

Cebu ranked number one in Global Services-Tholons’ Top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing Cities ranking for 2008, up from fourth last year. The results of the much-anticipated survey were announced earlier this month. The ranking covers 50 cities globally. The results of the survey reinforce the Philippines’ status as one of the top three outsourcing destinations globally, and Cebu as a major investment destination within the Philippines for the industry. 

According to the Cebu Educational Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT) business process outsourcing (BPO) investment and employment have grown rapidly in each of the past six years. From 2001 to 2007, employment increased from 7,000 to over 20,000. CEDF-IT expects demand to remain strong as BPO investors locate expansion facilities outside the National Capital Region.

Wipro Technologies is one of many global investors that have opened facilities in Cebu. A leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment internationally, Wipro offers system integration, network integration, software solutions, and IT services. In January this year, the company set up its first Philippine BPO site in Cebu. Wipro established a partnership with ExcelAsia Cebu in May.

“Our operation in Cebu has been very successful for us from the beginning and our staff there is the pioneer team for all ExcelAsia sites nationwide,” Trillo-Ugarte said. ExcelAsia was established in Cebu in 2005 with Convergys as its first client. Its client list now includes other industry-leading service providers, such as PeopleSupport and TeleTech. TeleTech is the largest contact center in the Philippines.

ExcelAsia Cebu received PeopleSupport’s Top Producer Award in August 2008, coinciding with ExcelAsia’s third anniversary. “Excel Asia has been constantly providing us with applicants for our e-Rep positions. As PeopleSupport grows, so do our requirements for more qualified personnel. This is where ExcelAsia becomes an invaluable asset to us, as they consistently send in volumes of qualified career hopefuls,” PeopleSupport HR Manager for Recruitment Marketing and Communications Diego Castro said.

ExcelAsia Cebu trains from 200 to 300 trainees a month. According to Pages, the number of trainees is expected to increase to 400 each month when the company’s new facilities are completed. Pages noted that ExcelAsia is also expanding its executive search capacity in Cebu, adding new professionals to the practice.