NEW DELHI, INDIA: Business process outsourcing firm ExlService Holdings said it has commenced operation at their first service delivery centre outside the country in Manila, Philippines entailing an investment of 8 million dollar.

"This is the first delivery centre of EXL outside India. We have invested about 8.3 million dollar to set up the facility," a company spokesperson told reporters.

The Philippines facility, which has a capacity of around 950 seats, has been built to meet the expanding demands of EXL's existing clients in multiple industry verticals as they spread their outsourcing operations globally, the company said in a statement.

Through this expansion, EXL seeks to provide a range of outsourcing services from Philippines for both new and existing clients, it added.

"We believe that Philippines represents a valuable source of talent that will complement the significant transformation and outsourcing capabilities we offer today from India. Our presence in the Philippines will further enhance EXL's business continuity capabilities and disaster recovery framework," EXL President and COO Rohit Kapoor said.

Earlier talking to reporters, Kapoor said, the company is also eyeing the Eastern European market and is planning to open a new centre in Romania. The company has plans to start centre in Latin America by 2009, he added.

Besides, the company is planning to set up a new unit in a SEZ near Delhi.

With the addition of Philippines facility, EXL now has nine delivery centers located across Noida, Gurgaon, Pune in India and Manila in the Philippines. The company is headquartered in New York and has offices in New Jersey, London and Singapore.

Source: Agencies