Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S drive to develop its business process outsourcing (BPO) sector could position the country among emerging global outsourcing destinations while helping unlock Africa’s vast economic potential, ZimWorX founder Mr James Wade Oliver Jr has said.
Speaking as African countries intensify efforts to attract investment in the outsourcing industry, Mr Oliver said Zimbabwe’s recently launched BPO initiative by the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) was a step in the right direction.
Zimworx is an outsourcing company that helps companies find the best employees for their business and field.
“The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency recently launched a business and process outsourcing initiative,” he said.
“It intends to designate buildings in Zimbabwe’s Special Economic Zones, with outsourcing companies expected to benefit from incentives, including duty-free importation of technical equipment.”
Mr Oliver said the initiative comes at a time when Africa is steadily gaining recognition as a competitive outsourcing destination, with South Africa and Nigeria already ranked among the world’s top 10 outsourcing hubs.
He said the continent’s youthful population and expanding labour force provided a strong foundation for growth in the sector.
“Under the right policy framework, Africa could become the biggest outsourcing hub in the world,” said Mr Oliver.
He said Africa was on course to have the largest workforce globally, presenting an opportunity for countries to leverage outsourcing as a vehicle for employment creation and economic transformation.
“According to projections, Africa is soon going to have the biggest workforce in the world,” Mr Oliver said.
“At its core, outsourcing is about people. By virtue of offering more human resources than other continents, Africa stands a chance to dominate the outsourcing world through the sheer size of its workforce, provided enough is invested in training it.”
Mr Oliver said the growth of remote working arrangements has created fresh opportunities for African talent to participate in the global economy.
He, however, said success will depend on deliberate investment in skills development and digital infrastructure.
“These advantages need to be combined with a robust policy framework,” he said.
Mr Oliver urged African governments to align education and training systems with industry requirements to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers.
“African nations need to mould talent pipelines in a way that supports their outsourcing industries,” he said.
“Universities, polytechnics and TVET institutions must teach skills that shape graduates for the outsourcing world.”
Mr Oliver also called for greater investment in broadband infrastructure and digital connectivity, describing reliable internet services as critical to the growth of the outsourcing industry.
He said governments should actively market their countries as outsourcing destinations while offering incentives to attract international investors.
Mr Oliver said countries that placed outsourcing at the centre of economic planning stood to benefit from increased employment, export earnings and sustainable economic growth.
“To reap the benefits of outsourcing, African nations have to invest in talent pipelines, technological infrastructure and global marketing, as well as offer economic incentives for companies to make the move,” he said.
