Global outsourcing provider Aegis Ltd. recently inaugurated its $2-billion building in Cebu as it aims to become a US$1 billion company by March 2012.
The BPO company, which employs over 50,000 employees across 50 locations globally, aims to add 3,000 more jobs by the end of the year with the addition of this 12-storey building located within Cebu’s Asia Town IT-Park. Aegis is the first BPO in the country to actually bought land of its operations.
“Aegis has evolved from being a provider of cost-effective services to a balance sheet partner focusing on end-user experience and business information. This change has found widespread acceptance among customers and we look forward to a very exciting future,” said Aparup Senguptaa, managing director and global CEO of Aegis.
Ajiv Ahuja, Aegis President for ASEAN and ANZ, said that the new building not only conveys Aegis’ leadership in the world but also highlights its commitment to its clients, employees, and stakeholders, and more importantly to the Philippines. “It is a proof of our commitment to the Philippines and to the Filipino talent. Cebu continues to provide an extremely skilled workforce providing great affinity with the right experience for our local and international clients,” said Ahuja. Aside from Cebu, the company currently has centers in Metro Manila and Baguio.
Bong Borja, president of Aegis PeopleSupport, expressed optimism on the continued growth of Aegis in the Philippines. “The new tower intends to only give Aegis employees a comfortable and conducive working environment, it is also and edifice where they can take pride – they will be proud to work for a company that invests in their talents and provides them the best working condition possible,” Borja said.
The 3,000 seat building was designed to maximize energy efficiency, using sustainable materials sourced from local suppliers with environment-friendly practices. Aegis is aiming to have the tower’s phase one become the first gold-level purpose-built business process outsourcing building in the Philippines certified under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental design (LEED). The phase two of the project will be completed by mid-2012.
Aegis Global Chief People Officer S.M. Gupta shared that the global outsourcing industry is estimated to reach $270 billion in the next five years, growing at an average of 15 percent a year. In the case of the Philippines, the rate is growing faster than the global growth rate of more than 23 percent in the last 10 years. He said the country must take advantage of this growth and continue producing a large talent pool for the BPO and IT industry.
The local government of Cebu has anything but support for the new infrastructure. During the press conference at the Cebu City Marriott hotel, Cong. Tomas Osmena shared how Cebu City has been concentration area for call center industry with approximately 50,000 residents employed in different call center companies. What is special about Aegis, according to him, is that unlike the traditional call center companies who lease the properties and pull out when lease is over, Aegis actually purchased land and built their own facilities.
“We’re very proud to witness the opening of this facility today,” Osmena said. “It’s our job here as government officials to see to it that they will become successful. They took the bold step on making a major commitment to our community and we assure them that we will provide tem whatever necessary support (they need),” he added.

Source: Manila Bulletin - October 14, 2011