Motif eyes SEZ space for new centre

California-based BPO and KPO service company, which has operations in Ahmedabad, India and Manila, Philippines, is mulling expansion of its Indian operations in Gujarat by setting up a new service centre. However, the company is considering options among some of the upcoming special economic zones (SEZ) in the state.

"We are evaluating space in some of the upcoming SEZs in Gujarat.  It would not make sense to expand outside SEZ and we are looking to add another 1,000 seats to the existing 500 seats in Ahmedabad. However, we are yet to zero in on an SEZ for the new centre," said Kaushal Mehta, chairman of Motif Inc.  The new centre is likely to come up by mid-2010 in an area of around 30,000 sq ft.

Motif Inc. provides BPO and KPO service like customer support, back office processing, research and analytics, and online fraud prevention services.  The company serves clients in verticals like travel, retail, finance and healthcare.

According to Mehta, the investment for the expanded facility in an SEZ will be roughly $ 2.5 million (Rs 12 crore approx.), similar to its recently launched centre in Costa Rica. 

"We have set up a 500 seat service centre in Costa Rica where we will be the first company to provide bilingual services in English and Spanish.  We intend to tap the Latin Americans, whose population is growing in the US," said Chris Meneze, president and CEO, Motif Inc.  The centre in Costa Rica is expected to generate around 1,000 jobs in the region and will begin operating in January 2010.

Refusing to divulge revenue details, Meneze said that the company grew by 100 per cent during the financial year 2008-09.  "This year we are expecting a growth of 60 per cent," Meneze added.