Outsource Fiji targets global markets to boost employment
SUVA, FIJI — Outsource Fiji, the nation’s leading body in the outsourcing industry, is targeting the United Nations and the United Kingdom as potential new markets for expanding its outsourcing sector.
Executive Director Sagufta Janif has announced the organization’s intention to tap into these markets to increase employment opportunities within Fiji.
A significant step in Outsource Fiji’s expansion plan is implementing a data protection law, which Janif emphasizes as crucial for catering to the needs of the new markets.
“In order to tap into these markets in those countries, we need to have a data protection law. So that is something we are working on,” Janif explained.
The establishment of such a law is expected to attract larger multinational business process outsourcing (BPO) firms and create more job opportunities for Fijians.
The organization is also focusing on capacity-building projects to better prepare individuals for the outsourcing industry, collaborating with universities and training institutions to upskill potential employees.
Fiji’s infrastructure and legal frameworks
In an earlier report, Janif highlighted the importance of upgrading local infrastructure and strengthening data protection laws to make Fiji a competitive player in the global outsourcing market.
“We, of course, have to get access to the talent and the talent availability here in Fiji,” Janif stated, underlining the need for improved local talent and technology.
A robust legal framework is crucial for accessing lucrative Western markets, especially in the financial services sector.
“If we want to provide services to countries like the UK, Europe, and the USA, and now I think it’s trickling down to Australia as well and New Zealand, we need to have stringent data protection laws in place,” Janif added.
Strategic developments and economic impact
With the goal of creating 25,000 outsourcing jobs by 2030, Fiji’s outsourcing sector is poised to impact the nation’s economy significantly.
The industry currently employs about 9,000 people and hosts 25 outsourcing firms. Outsource Fiji alone contributes approximately $216 million annually to Fiji’s economy.
To further enhance the industry’s capacity, Outsource Fiji also recently entered a partnership with New Zealand-based Duco Consultancy to develop a learning management system (LMS) platform.
This platform will offer free, industry-specific courses to help locals join the outsourcing industry more easily.
“These are very niche courses that Outsource Fiji can host on the learning management solution, and then the participants, or the students, can actually do them at their own pace, at their own time,” said Chandan Ohri, Founder CEO of Duco Consultancy.
