RP software firms prepare for European trade missions
By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:42:00 09/02/2008
Filed Under: Technology (general), Software, business process outsourcing (BPO)
MANILA, Philippines – Software group PSIA is preparing for multiple trade missions in Europe later this year as it looks to expand the country's offshore market outside of the United States.
Beng Coronel, Philippine Software Industry Association president, said her group is eyeing to join three separate trade missions organized by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
BPAP, the umbrella association representing the entire outsourcing sector, is organizing a local contingent to an industry summit in November by United Kingdom's National Outsourcing Association.
DTI, through CITEM (Center for International Trade Expos and Missions), is also organizing a special trade mission to Europe, specifically in Scandinavian countries.
Coronel said PSIA is following the "business matching" model similar to its four-city road show in the US last June, wherein they met with industry groups to discuss the local software services industry.
"In terms of size alone, there is definitely a market in Europe," Coronel told INQUIRER.net via phone. "But compared to the US, the challenge lies in catering to non-English speaking countries."
In addition, Coronel said that compared to US firms, those in Europe are inclined to outsource "near-shore", particularly Eastern European nations.
"But there are specific requirements of European firms aligned with our capabilities as an industry. We would have to prioritize English-speaking countries first such as UK," Coronel said.
She added DFA is also organizing a trade mission to Europe that also caters to other industries such as health and wellness and medical tourism.
Coronel admitted that a big challenge for PSIA member companies is that it's more expensive to mount a trade mission to Europe than the US. Out of nearly 130 PSIA members, only 18 companies joined the US road show.
"We will have to discuss which (of these trade missions) we would be most interested or spread out in order to attend all three," Coronel said.
PSIA estimates its members generated a total of more than $423 million in revenues last year. The group is targeting to increase this to a billion dollars by 2010.
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