Gaza tech pioneer rebuilds outsourcing business from ashes
GAZA, PALESTINE — A Palestinian entrepreneur is demonstrating remarkable resilience by rebuilding his outsourcing business after losing everything in the recent conflict in Gaza, Palestine.
As the CEO and Founder of BPO ZONES and Executive Director of Unit One Group, Saady Lozon faced significant obstacles in creating an outsourcing hub in Palestine, but he remains committed to generating employment opportunities.
In a recent interview with The Outsource Accelerator Podcast, Lozon stated that Unit One was born from a desire to leverage the global outsourcing trend.
“We saw that the trend of the world is outsourcing… Why didn’t we have companies like these in Gaza?” Lozon questioned. By utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn, Unit One quickly gained traction, offering IT and Business Process Outsourcing services to multinational clients.
Empowering the workforce
Lozon’s mission extended beyond business growth. He aimed to empower the local workforce in Gaza by creating opportunities for underserved groups.
Before the conflict, Unit One employed 260 people in Gaza, providing IT and business process outsourcing services to multinational clients including HP, Nvidia, and Monday.com. The company specializes in AI annotations, digital marketing, data entry, and call center operations.
“About 40% of all employees in Unit One are female,” he noted. He also highlighted the company’s inclusivity by employing people with disabilities.
Despite Gaza’s instability, online methods allowed operations to continue without physical borders. “Gaza is a closed space… we were hoping to export services through the Internet,” Lozon explained in the interview.
Unit One successfully leveraged the region’s educated workforce, drawing talent from five local universities. The company’s success highlighted Gaza’s potential as an outsourcing destination, with strong English language skills among graduates and a robust pool of technical talent.
Overcoming conflict and rebuilding
The outbreak of war in Gaza brought devastation, forcing Lozon to relocate operations to Egypt. “The company was destroyed completely,” he recounted on the podcast.
With all clients terminating contracts, Lozon established BPO ZONES and worked diligently to rebuild trust. “Some clients promised to start small, to build trust again,” he shared.
Drawing from his extensive experience, Lozon successfully reestablished his business. “The main assets… for any service [or] business is the human resources,” he stated, highlighting his team’s proficiency as a crucial asset.
A new chapter in Oman
Now based in Oman, BPO ZONES is expanding into Egypt and plans future operations in the Philippines.
Lozon reflects on his journey with resilience and optimism. “I think I have a good success story to build a new business on,” he concluded during the podcast interview, demonstrating unwavering determination to continue his mission despite past adversities.
The company’s journey from Gaza to Oman represents a compelling example of business resilience in the face of extreme adversity and highlights the transformative potential of the global outsourcing industry in creating economic opportunities in challenging regions.