e-Services global conference expects big ticket investors

CEBU, Philippines - The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is urging Cebuano companies to join next year’s eServices Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibitions, as it expects big ticket investors and traders from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) all over the world.

“We have always envisioned e-Services to be the venue for global ICT leaders and authorities to interact, exchange ideas, and to showcase their products and services,” said Ma. Lourdes D. Mediran, Deputy Executive Director and office-in-charge of CITEM.

CITEM officials were in Cebu recently to invite ICT and BPO stakeholders here to join next year’s 10th eServices event in Manila, on February 8 and 9, 2010.

According to Jerilyn L. Felix, trade and industry development specialist for IT Services Division of CITEM, Cebu should emphasize its position as number emerging BPO destination in the world and joining this kind of event could bolster interest from the international community.

Next year’s eServices expects to rake US$22 million export sales, and P110 million in domestic sales, as it strengthen its business matching program, to connect exhibitors and traders to interested investors around the world.

A pre-business matching will be started by CITEM in order to assure participating companies of business deals during the event, Felix said.

Big delegations from India, China, Europe, United States, Japan, Australia are expected to come, she said.

She said expectations for the show’s 10th year are high as the Philippines positions itself to grab a bigger share from the multi-billion-dollar BPO industry.

The eServices 2009 booked US$100 million export sales and US$1.484 million in negotiated sales, as well as attracting ICT/BPO brands like HDI-Japan, Salmat Limited, and Mustang Technologies, among others.

“Now for its 10th year, we want more than ever for IT companies to be where they need to be in order to maximize their business advantage, in light of the current market condition,” said Mediran.

In a bid to emphasize e-Services 2010 as the venue for high-level business matching and strategic partnerships, the Power Investors Program is launched as a buyer campaign program designed to maximize the business opportunities of exhibiting companies, with new formats Speed Networking and Online Business Matching.

CITEM has focused its promotion to encourage the next wave Cities to participate in the exhibition. She emphasized the need for Cebu to make its big presence during the event.

“The lingering recession provides even more impetus for investors to capitalize on offshore outsourcing hubs that can supply a pool of skilled manpower, affordable operational costs, and ready telecom infrastructure—attractive indicators that the Philippine regions increasingly abound in,” Mediran said.