Georgetown: QUALFON, a leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) provider, opened the doors to one of the world’s largest Contact Centre campus at Lot 146 Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara (behind the Guyana National Stadium). Slated to provide some 6,000 new jobs over a five-year period, the new multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art, multi-building campus will also boast a university, facilities for milk subsidies, free medical services, worksite chaplains, library exchange and caring programmes
The Qualfon Contact Centre Campus at Providence was constructed on 10 acres of land and the first phase of construction will cost approximately US$4M.
On September 3, 2013, the sod-turning exercise took place, with President Donald Ramotar delivering the feature address at the ground-breaking ceremony.
At that event, President Ramotar underscored the importance of investment in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, which he said has penetrated into every single section of the economy.
He acknowledged that such a large investment in this enterprise was also important, because it puts Guyana on the cutting edge of present technology, and therefore augured well for the future development of the society.
President Ramotar also stressed the importance of ICT in broadening Guyana’s economy, so as to make it less dependent on only a few businesses.
“This has certainly made a major contribution in the direction of broadening the economy and that is why we have been trying our best to lay the foundation to make Guyana attractive for investment,” he said.
Site Director of the Providence Qualfon Campus, Mr. Mark Boyer, said the company already employs about 1,500 people in Guyana.
He said the new centre will generate 6,000 jobs, but this cannot be done by Qualfon alone; but rather with the support of the Government and other institutions and agencies.
Boyer posited that just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a country to put 6,000 people to work.
He disclosed that there are nine Qualfon centres worldwide, three in The Philippines, two in Columbia, one in Honduras, one in Guatemala, one in Belize and one in Guyana. Among these, he said, the Guyana centre is ranked at number one in virtually every category in the world.
Qualfon’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Mike Marrow, speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, said the event was an exciting one in the history of the investor and should also be one for the citizens of Guyana.
He said the Providence Campus will be one of the largest call centres in the world.
According to him: “That says something about Guyana.”
He said that, while Qualfon operates in countries worldwide, out of all, Guyana is the ideal place to put one of the largest call centres.
“Qualfon is making this major investment in Guyana because this is the country that has so much to offer. Guyana provides the perfect location for Qualfon. We find an exceedingly high-calibre workforce, a diverse and friendly culture, as well as a strong government leadership with unwavering dedication to economic growth,” Marrow remarked.
He said over the next few years, the Providence Campus will become the largest business hub for Qualfon and its most significant investment, to date, anywhere in the world.
Marrow declared that the company’s financial investment is also a commitment to Guyana, its people and its economy.
He explained that the campus will be a state-of-the-art complex, offering career opportunities and educational development for thousands of people in Guyana.
Additionally, the campus will ultimately offer an accredited university which would provide classes, career guidance, learning laboratories, arts and cultural programmes and a shared library system.
Marrow related that there will also be free medical services, vitamins, maternity care and milk subsidy programmes to benefit the children of its employees. Qualfon will also sponsor caring schemes and volunteer opportunities, so that employees may help those in need and give back to the community.
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