Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the opening of a new business process outsourcing (BPO) office in Fairview, Quezon City, on Friday, Oct. 20.
Belmonte emphasized her support for further development of the BPO industry in the city.
"The city's economy continues to grow thanks to the close partnerships we have with local businesses. Our commitment to developing the local BPO scene remains through the city government's various efforts, including improved ease of doing business. BPOs are a key player in the city's social development strategy through employment generation for Quezon City residents," she said.
During the opening of Afni BPO office, the mayor said she welcomes the growth and expansion of the industry in the city because it offers thousands of job opportunities for citizens.
The city government has also supported the training and seminars of the city residents, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and new graduates.
Afni Vice President for Operations and Philippine Country Manager Khalid Khursheed stated that their objective is to create more job opportunities that are located near people's residences.
"Afni has more than 8,000 employees in the Philippines, most of whom are in Quezon City. The company's goal is to generate more jobs that are close to people's homes — in view of our commitment to investing, especially in Quezon City and the country's economy. Afni is celebrating 10 years in Quezon City, with much thanks to Mayor Joy Belmonte, whose support for BPOs allowed Afni to invest more in our operations in the city," he said.
Afni is located at SM City Fairview Tower 4 (SMT4). It is also the company's second site in Quezon City, while its Philippine headquarters is located on Commonwealth Avenue.
According to the company, it commenced its operations in Fairview in 2020 and established its current SMT4 office two years later as it celebrated its 10t anniversary in the country.
Also, the decision to expand operations in the Philippines was driven by consistent demand from its clients for customer engagement support services.
The expanded SMT4 site also encompasses over 100,000 square feet across five floors and presently accommodates more than 4,000 employees.
The company stated that the additional floor will make it possible to accommodate another thousand future employees in the building.
They highlighted that the office is thoughtfully designed with employee wellness in mind, featuring dedicated game rooms, arcade areas, and an open-air common area, all complemented by direct access to the mall's amenities.
Khursheed cited Filipinos' commendable work ethics.
"Solidifying and expanding the business in the Philippines is part of the company's growth strategy as we support our clients and employees. Afni considers the Philippines, given Filipinos' commendable work ethic, as the company's stronghold for sustainable growth in the global BPO landscape," he said.