In the next 3-5 years, Bucharest will remain the favourite location for investments in IT and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) centres, according to a study conducted by the consultancy company Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). Investments made in Bucharest in IT and BPO centres will stand at over 100 million euros in the next four years, according to PAC officials.
Business Process Outsourcing means the outsourcing of business processes to a specialised company.
"We base this statement on the information we have on the location of most IT centres. Out of the total number of newly-created positions in such centres, Bucharest will host over 75% of them," Eugen Schwab-Chesaru, general manager of PAC Romania told ZF.
He thinks that after 2010 or 2011, Bucharest may no longer be the investors' favourite city. "Just as Brno replaced Prague as the city with the most attractive IT centres in the Czech Republic, Iasi or Cluj could replace Bucharest,' explains Chesaru.
For the province to leave the capital behind in terms of investments, it will need to develop the infrastructure, the local education system by increasing the number of students and of graduates and, last but not least, boosting the number of direct flights to the main European cities.
Nonetheless, cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Brasov or Craiova will not be avoided by investors in the medium run. One of the advantages that these cities have are the moderate costs, 25-40% lower than in Bucharest, according to Chesaru. "Some 20-30 million euros will be invested in these cities in the next four years, which are the targets of companies with small and medium-sized teams, of under 100 employees,' specified the PAC official.
Whatever may happen, Bucharest is and will remain a "magnet" for experts from other cities, and the Capital City will generate over 5,000 new positions for IT experts in the next three years. "Today, Bucharest simply attracts people. Most youngsters in the province dream about studying and working in Bucharest, because the potential of the capital is much bigger than that of provincial cities. One of the reasons why life in Bucharest resembles more the nice things you see on TV is because Bucharest is where most well-paid jobs can be found, open to the outside world and with advancement opportunities," added Chesaru.
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