Banking
giant HSBC is to set up a call centre in The Philippines to handle customer
service and backroom operations for its UK customers.
The
bank will initially hire 500 people for the operation, to be based on the
outskirts of Manila.
HSBC
executive Warner Manning said: "Quality telecommunications… and
English-language skills… are freely available in The Philippines."
The
deal had been held up by "political uncertainties", as The
Philippines is rated among the world’s top 10 most dangerous countries in which
to do business, according to statistics published this week by insurance broker
Aon.
HSBC
intends to pump "several million" dollars into the project which will
be located at the Northgate Cyberzone, in Alabang, south of Manila.
The
company already has service centres for UK customers in India, Malaysia and
China.
