ICT business mission to New Zealand come May in the works

Information, communication and technology (ICT) firms hope to snag partnerships with companies in New Zealand when they take part in a mission to New Zealand this May, according to Ambassador Virginia Benavidez. "Discussions focused on preparations for the 2nd Philippine ICT Partnership Opportunity Mission to New Zealand on May 26 to 28," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

 

It added the matching session between the New Zealand companies and the Philippine delegation on May 28 would open more doors for greater business collaboration and investments.

 

New Zealand companies' involvement in the Philippine information technology, business process outsourcing and knowledge processing (IT/BPO/KPO) sectors has considerably increased in the past months. 

 

Benavidez has sat down with New Zealand Trade and Enterprises (NZTE) officer Eileen Vizmonte, Business Processing Association Philippines (BPAP) Executive Director for External Affairs Martin Crisostomo and External Affairs Associate Indu Badlani at the BPAP office.

 

She met with representatives from the IT sector, including Pacific Hub's Manager Anne Kristine Nilooban and Shanti Debbi Baltazr, R Computer Professionals Inc. Vice President for Business Development Rosario Gruet, and Philippine Software Industry Association Executive Director Josefina Villanueva.

 

Benavidez thanked the NZTE, BPAP and the IT companies for their interest to go on an IT mission to Auckland, New Zealand.

 

She highlighted the increasing collaboration between the Philippines and New Zealand on the IT/business process outsourcing sector as one of the flagship and priority projects in the embassy's economic diplomacy programs.

 

Also, she briefed the company heads on the arrangements for the IT delegation's meeting and interaction with the Filipino IT professionals on May 26.

 

She added the BPAP's presentation on the success and strides of the Philippine IT/BPO industry would be very much welcomed by the Filipino community in New Zealand. — ELR, GMA News