MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the keynote speaker in next week's eServices conference to be attended by around 500 local and foreign executives from the business process outsourcing or BPO industry.

The annual conference is organized by DTI's Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) and outsourcing advisory firm Tholons, Inc.

Arroyo, who has often cited the BPO industry as a catalyst for economic growth, will be joined by DTI secretary Peter Favila in welcoming conference delegates.

Last week, the government announced a P350 million scholarship fund to train call center "near hires". The funding is coursed through TESDA (Technical Education Skills and Development Authority).

Near hires refer to call center applicants who did not come close to meeting qualifications for employment in industry, but need to refine language and other skills.

According to BPA/P, approximately 90 percent of near hires in the software industry obtained employment after receiving training funded by the program.

President Arroyo is expected to talk about the Cyberservices Corridor project, a campaign to increase employment in the provinces. In line with this campaign, BPA/P is working with the Commission on ICT in identifying areas that can accommodate more BPO investments.

According to DTI, the BPO industry grew its revenues to more than P5 billion. BPA/P's target is to grow industry to at least P12 billion in the next two years.

The e-Services Global Sourcing conference takes place February 11 to 12, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.