START-UPS remain upbeat despite the fall of Manila and Cebu in the 2017 Tholons Services Globalization Index (TSGI). In TSGI’s latest list released on June 28, Manila fell from No. 2 to No. 4 as a top global outsourcing destination, while Cebu fell from the global top 10 to top 12. Tina Amper of TechTalks.ph considers the fall as stemming from the shift in the global economy.
“The world economy now gives primary importance to digital innovation,” Amper said during the launch of the 2017 “Geeks on a Beach” (GOAB) conference. “The recent TSGI Global Outsourcing Index tells us we are on the right track.”
She explained on July 4 that the fall from the index was due to the introduction by Tholons, for the first time, of digital innovation, start-up ecosystem and digital transformation as primary measures in determining top cities for outsourcing.
“However, we expect that our standing will improve next year, as we currently have many programs in place to spur growth in startups,” Amper said, citing the GOAB, which she said is supported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
“Call centers will still be there, although world-class digital businesses will look at the whole digital ecosystem,” Amper added. “This means the physical and digital infrastructure, the legislative framework, the manpower and others.”