Africa still attempting to attract call centres

Africa continues to move up in the tech world, and Kenya made a big score within the hotly contested exploitable market. Capital city Nairobi will host the first African business process and outsourcing and call-centre conference this month.

The conference will provide a forum for international investors and outsourcing companies to meet local operators and potential business partners, an emailed statement said. “…hosting the first African BPO&O and call-centre conference … will provide an important boost to the country’s concerted drive to become a leading outsource destination in the world market,” stated Minister of Information and Communication Mutahi Kagwe.

The BPO&O and call-centre industries are hoped to be high-potential job creators in South Africa in particular and the continent in general. Last month saw a highly influential development from ContactinGauteng that gives hope to those in the sector in Africa.

ContactinGauteng envisions a full-on business process outsourcing skills hub in Gauteng, South Africa, which would create a whopping 60,000 new jobs in the call-centre industry within the next three years. ContactinGauteng seeks to develop this potential talent pool to its call-centre industry. Through this initiative, Gauteng’s school dropouts would be able to gain the opportunity to learn basic skills to increase their level of employability and career prospects.

ContactinGauteng doubles as call-centre industry authority and member association in Gauteng. The firm is responsible for more than 60 percent of call centres in South Africa; the city of Johannesburg’s economic development unit itself will be partnering with ContactinGauteng to develop the BPO skills hub.