BPOs wake up to biz opportunities in NE

Shillong, Jan 28: India's north-east, so far clouded by insurgency, is bracing for an economic and employment boom with some of the country's top IT and BPO companies making a foray into the region.

Genpact, one of the country's top BPO employers, is the latest to have firmed up plans to start operations in the north-east. Recently, companies like Tata Consultancy, Symantec and 24/7 Customer had evinced interest in setting up their businesses here, apparently impressed by the region's abundant supply of skilled workforce and low attrition rate.

According to Meghalaya Information Technology secretary D P Wahlang, the companies are impressed with the locals' strong command over English and the sense of loyalty that people from this region bring to the job, resulting in lower attrition.

During the recent 'North-East Investment Summit' in Guwahati, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had said that north east India is becoming a fertile recruitment ground for IT and BPO service providers.

BPO firm 24/7 Customer has hired about 150 people from north-east and east India in the last few years, while Maveric Systems, an independent testing organisation, has hired 24 students from four engineering colleges and one university here.

Experts say the companies have found that candidates in this region have the ability to adapt easily to a BPO environment.

Sources