Aditya Birla Minacs keen on Latin American facility

Aditya Birla Minacs, the business process outsourcing (BPO) arm of the $28 billion Aditya Birla Group, today said it was keen on establishing a facility in Latin America with an eye on servicing its clients in the United States, which contributes about 65 per cent of the company's total revenues.

“We have already shortlisted three locations in the region, and our 26-member team is undertaking locational studies. It (the facility) will primarily cater to our US clients and most of it will be voice (solutions),” Aditya Birla Minacs President – Asia Pacific Milind Godbole said.

Godbole explained that the firm was looking for countries which had a strong cultural connect with the United States, so that voice solutions could be better altered to suit client requirements. However, he was reluctant to divulge details of the countries or investment.

Indian IT and ITes firms already have a presence in the region. While both Wipro and Infosys have facilities in Brazil, the latter has another in Mexico. TCS has headquarters in Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

“We would like to begin operations on our own or through an acquisition. A JV (joint venture) is our last priority. Operating in South America is at least 10 per cheaper than Indian BPO functions,” Godbole said.

Meanwhile, the company also expects to expand operations in the Philippines this fiscal by increasing its headcount at Manila to 1000 employees and opening its second facility in the country, he added.