London, United Kingdom – The Philippines was again awarded the Offshoring Destination of the Year Award for 2009 during the 6th annual National Outsourcing Association Awards held at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in Central London last October 15, 2009. This award was also awarded to the Philippines in 2007, the last time the country was also nominated to the category.
The Philippines bested four other shortlisted countries namely; Egypt, Russia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The countries were adjudged based on criteria covering country advantages and appeal to UK companies, level of market penetration in the UK and the areas of outsourcing available in the country.
The nomination entry was submitted by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines on July 20, 2009 to convey that the Philippine IT‐BPO industry has achieved even greater heights since it won the same award in 2007. This bid of the Philippines to renew its title, reveals that the country’s IT‐BPO industry has been consistent with its remarkable growth amid the global financial crisis. The nomination of the Philippines by BPAP reflected the latest upbeat figures and milestones that Philippine Outsourcing and offshoring sector has registered. It also introduced new services as well as growing sectors that the Philippine Outsourcing industry now offers to the global market. The nomination of the Philippines was also made possible upon the recommendations of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in London (PTIC), representative office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). PTIC London also serves as the Commercial Section of the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom.
The National Outsourcing Association is the recognized industry association for the outsourcing industry in the United Kingdom. The award reaffirms the Philippines’ position as one of the world’s leading outsourcing destinations. Outsourcing and Offshoring remains among the top priority investment sectors being promoted by the Philippine Department of Industry and its UK Office, PTIC London. In a recently held Business Forum fully attended by some seventy C‐Level Executives and Managing Directors at the Intercontinental Hotel Park Lane in London, where Secretary Peter B. Favila delivered the keynote address, Outsourcing to the Philippines was among the three sectors featured and warmly welcomed by those who attended.
The Philippine outsourcing industry is now seen to expand the impressive range of services offered globally to include not only the traditional voice, IT and BPO services but also higher value services such as finance, accounting, artistic design, engineering and architectural services among many others.