BPOs remain confident amid impending US protectionism
By Justine Irish D. Tabile, A reporter
The Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry said it remains the samefihas been troubled by its prospects despite the threat to US security under President-elect Donald J. Trump.
In a statement on Tuesday, the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) described the Philippines as a strong outsourcing destination.
“The Philippine IT-BPM industry is built on the foundation of the strength and efficiency of the Philippines,” according to Jack Madrid, IBPAP president and CEO officer.
“New foreign policies and global movements challenge us, but they also push us to raise our capabilities,” he added.
The group was talking about “global changes and movements such as possible protectionist policies from Mr. Trump, wars and conflicts, and their possible impact on the Philippine IT-BPM industry.”
According to Mr. Madrid, IBPAP “continued to grow during (the fiThe Trump administration)” regardless of what is being said. “
Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, founder of Cirrolytix and AI, technology, and IBPAP research, said 70% of the industry group’s members are from North America.
“This number is from IBPAP, which represents the entire industry,” he said in a Viber message.
Within the industry, he said IT-BPM firms with North American clients such as Teleperformance, Concentrix, Alorica, Accenture, and Sitel Group, while North American companies also have local operations, including Wells Fargo, American Express, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America.
Between 2003 and 2021, 395 US firms invested $22.4 billion in the Philippines, of which 35%, or $7.8 billion, went to IT-BPM, said a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
However, GlobalSource Country Analysts Diwa C. Guinigundo and Wilhelmina C. Mañalac said Mr. Trump’s “America First” is designed to guarantee jobs for Americans, which could have a negative impact on the business process (BPO) industry.
“The uncertainty of Trump’s policy on the business contracts industry could have a non-trivial impactffit contributes to the growth of output and jobs in the Philippines,” they added.
This year, IBPAP expects exports to total $38 billion and $1.82 billion by the end of the year.
According to IBPAP’s roadmap, the industry is focused on 2.5 millionffing and $59 billion in revenue by 2028.
Asked to comment, the President of the Foundation for Economic Freedom Calixto V. Chikiamco said it is too early to say whether Mr.
“President Trump has only announced, across the board, tariffs on imported goods, not on imported services. So, we don’t know yet, but he might, if he looks at his ‘America First’,” said Mr. Chikiamco on Viber.
“So far, he has focused on bringing manufacturing jobs back home to America, but he can still focus on jobs that have left the country to go abroad,” he added.
Despite the good idea, Mr. Madrid said the industry must constantly upgrade its workforce in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud solutions.
“By continuing and urgently expanding our workforce in emerging sectors, we are ensuring that the Philippines remains the most important partner in the IT-BPM world,” he said.
According to IBPAP, global demand for IT-BPM services continues to grow as companies continue to rely on outsourcing.
“Companies rely on outsourcing to drive efficiency, resilience, and innovation — needs that transcend political boundaries,” the industry group said.
“The Philippines is at the forefront of meeting these needs, thanks to its highly skilled, flexible and culturally compatible workforce,” it added.
“The future of the Philippine IT-BPM industry will not be determined by foreign policies or global uncertainty. It is defined by the strength of our people, our adaptability, and our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class services,” he added.
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