LAOAG, ILOCOS NORTE, (PNA) -– Next Wave City – Ilocos Norte is all set as an Information Technology – Business Process Management (IT-BPM) destination, officials said.
Ilocos Norte was awarded as best in infrastructure in the 2012 Next Wave Cities Report. Metro Laoag has all of the elements needed to be a premier Next Wave City (NWC) or an alternative IT-BPM destination to Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.
Governor Imee Marcos was particular in highlighting the quality of talent available in Ilocos Norte. “While the northern part of the country has a relatively smaller population compared to other provinces, here we don’t talk quantity but prefer to talk about quality,” she said.
The real product of Ilocos Norte is its people, with its spirit of intrepidness and entrepreneurship, one that lends itself to ICT and the exciting new world of digital media.
Our abundance of talent in Ilocos Norte can help drive the IT-BPM industry and the services industry to new heights, Governor Marcos said.
Speaking to local ICT stakeholders, and college students at the Laoag leg of the NWC ICT Road Show, Governor Marcos added that: “Next to talent, our infrastructure is a source of pride for us Ilocanos, we have quality roads, an International Airport and container port as well quality telecommunications connectivity.”
Contact center provider Expert Global Solutions (EGS) is the first major IT-BPM provider to set up shop in Laoag, citing the availability of quality talent and supportive local government as the major factors contributing to their decision to set up a contact center in the province.
Ms. Emmy Lou V. Delin, NWC Program Manager of the DOST-ICT Office, is confident that Metro Laoag can easily support more than 15,000 full time employees in the IT-BPM industry by 2016.
“The abundance of quality educational institutions in Ilocos Norte assures the constant supply of talent that IT-BPM locators are now seriously looking at expansion in the province. Ilocanos no longer need to leave home to find lucrative careers.” Ms. Delfin said.