Antigua explores IT and Call Centre market
Friday June 24 2011 | 03:03 AM

A feasibility study on Antigua and Barbuda’s IT and Call Centre services has been conducted by a delegation from South-South News and Consulting Firm, Avasant, to determine the country’s market opportunities and already they’re reporting major potential.

Partner at Avasant, Anupam Govil assessed the key parameters for setting up an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) or Call Centre operation in the country, including the infrastructure, connectivity, workforce skills, business environment and policies.

He said preliminary results are very positive. 

“What I found is Antigua has a very unique position especially in the English speaking Caribbean. It has very good skills in certain areas in the call centre side, specifically customer and technical support,” said Govil, who advises a number of multi-national ICT and Call Centre companies that establish such operations in different countries around the world.

“I see huge potential for data centre related activity because of the fibre coming here and true redundancy which is not available in many islands…Once we have all this information put together we should be able to bring investors into these sectors,” he added.

Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Dr. Edmond Mansoor said the country’s ICT sector has the potential to become more competitive in the development of telecentres and call centres.

“The government is very committed to the development of the ICT sector in all of its facets. There is a very strong community component but there is also a strong thrust to the creation of sustainable employment for young people in particular,” he said.