Everis opens a technological centre in La AraucaníaPublished: April 7, 2009
The arrival of Everis centers marks a new milestone in the challenge to promote the global services industry and to consolidate Chile as an investment platform for offshoring companies.
The multinational Everis recently opened a technological development and services centre in Temuco, capital of sourthern Región of La Araucanía. The complex will implement projects for the company's clients in various parts of the world, but mainly in Spain, Brazil and Colombia.
The arrival of the business and technology firm in the South of Chile is part of Everis commitment to encourage decentralisation and the development of regional technological centres. In 2007, Everis centers opened a High Performance Centre for students at the Universidad de la Frontera (UFRO), also in the Region.
Attending the inauguration ceremony were the International Head of Everis centres, Francisco López; the General Manager of Everis Chile, Patricia García; and the Director of Everis centers Chile, Karina Chaher. Also present were the Executive Secretary of the Offshoring Cluster and Investment Manager of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO), Mario Castillo; the Executive Vice-president of the Foreign Investment Committee, Liliana Macchiavello; Regional Governor of Araucanía, Nora Barrientos; and the general manager of the Fundación País Digital, Claudia Bobadilla, amongst others.
With this centre in Temuco, the arrival of Everis marks a new milestone in the challenge to promote the global services industry. According to the National Council for Innovation, this is one of the centres with high potential for development over the coming years. This sector will turn Chile into an investment platform for multinationals that offer distance services via information technology.
"The arrival of everis centers confirms Chile's potential, and in particular the qualities that Temuco has to offer for this type of investment. This project is added to the long list of over 50 international centres established in the country. As a result, Chile is approaching the goal of US$ 1 billion in global services-related exports by 2010, and strengthens its position as an investment platform," explained Mario Castillo.
Opportunities for new professionals
Supported by CORFO's InvestChile program, this center initiative is the first of its type in the area. In the first phase, it will create 30 jobs for new professionals in the area of engineering and IT, and in the medium term, the company will create 80 new posts in the region. In addition, 40% of the professionals involved in this initiative will have the possibility of travelling to Spain for training at Everis' central offices in Madrid.
The International Head of Everis centres, Francisco López, highlighted the potential of this initiative: "the professionals who participate in everis centers will form part of an international consultancy network. This will allow them to be in constant touch with best practices, cutting edge solutions and efficiency, in order to develop world class projects from the Araucanía region."
Emerging platformThe offshoring industry is one of the most internationally dynamic, amounting to US$ 65 billion in 2006 and with an expected annual growth of 40%. This figure is expected to reach US$ 280 billion worldwide by 2010.
Currently, Chile exports more than US$ 400 million in services and employs over 10,000 qualified workers. At a local level, the global services industry has doubled in less than two years.
Chile is recognised as an emerging location for international technological services. This is the result of the availability and quality of its qualified human resources, excellent telecommunications infrastructure, competitive costs, economic stability and quality of life.