French giant CMA-CGM strikes BOI deal to set up BPO in Colombo

Monday, 29 September 2014 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

French giant CMA-CGM last week signed an agreement with Board of Investment to set up its Shared Service Centre, a business processing outsource facility in Colombo. The agreement was signed by BOI Chairman Dr. Lakshman Jayaweera and CMA-CGM Shared Services Lanka Director C.S. Ananda.

CMA-CGM Shared Services Director C.S. Ananda formally receives the BOI Certificate of Registration from Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane at the Ministry The total investment is $ 2.4 million and will generate 750 employment opportunities in the first year, with possibilities to grow to a total capacity of 2,000 staff. The project will also bring state-of-the-art IT systems to the new centre in Colombo. The company has already employed 50 graduate and young CIMA/CA part qualified staff, who are currently undergoing training. This facility will be fully functional by the end of 2014. The ownership of the company is 90% for CMA-CGM agencies worldwide and 10% Hayleys Advantis Ltd. CMA-CGM is the world’s third largest container shipping company and No. 1 company in France. It is headquartered in Marseille, France and operates 650 offices and agencies in more than 150 countries. The company also has regular services on over 170 shipping lines. Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said: “Sri Lanka is seeking to develop as a major maritime hub under the plan of the Government. At the same time the Government also aims for Sri Lanka to emerge as a centre of excellence in the area of knowledge services. This project is of interest because it successfully combines both those important strategic objectives of Sri Lanka, which the BOI and Ministry of Investment Promotion are actively promoting.”