Saturday, July 21, 2007

Cuba in new list of countries with potential outsourcing capabilities

Cuba in new list of countries with potential outsourcing capabilities

Gartner analyst Frances Karamouzis said Cuba, which has a population of
about 11 million people, is "an interesting prospect" for outsourcing
because of its educational programs in math and computer science.

DALLAS -- At the Gartner Outsourcing Summit here last week,
representatives from countries like China, South Africa, Brazil, the
Czech Republic and, of course, India set up shop on the trade show
floor. And many other nations may have a presence in the future if they
can successfully develop offshore outsourcing industries.

Gartner estimates that about 60 countries are involved in outsourced IT
at some level. The firm divides them into several categories: market
leaders, such as India, China, Argentina and Russia; active
participants, which include nations such as Vietnam, Egypt and Chile;
and countries that are just taking preliminary steps to develop
offshoring capabilities.

Among the new countries added to Gartner's list of potential offshore
providers this year are Algeria, Bahrain, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta,
Moldova, Saudi Arabia and Uganda. It's a fluid list — countries removed
for a lack of progress include El Salvador, South Korea, Panama, Peru
and Taiwan. Puerto Rico was also scratched.

One survivor on the list is Cuba. Gartner analyst Frances Karamouzis
said the Cuba, which has a population of about 11 million people, is "an
interesting prospect" because of its educational programs in math and
computer science.

Eric Driggs, a research associate at the University of Miami's Institute
for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, said in a telephone interview that
Cuba offers an educated population and university-level IT training. It
also has youth centers that provide basic computer training. "You are
definitely seeing a buildup of human capital to make [offshore services]
possible," Driggs said.

http://www.cubaheadlines.com/2007/07/20/4576/cuba_in_new_list_of_countries_with_potential_outsourcing_capabilities.html

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