TCS, GE, Saudi Aramco team up to launch all-female BPO centre in Riyadh

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest software company, has joined hands with Saudi Aramco and GE to launch the first all-female business process services centre.

The centre was launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

The center will be staffed by Saudi female employees, with TCS and GE owning 76 per cent and 24 per cent equity respectively.

The new BPO will initially serve Saudi Aramco and GE as anchor clients, and eventually expand its customer base to other companies and institutions across the Kingdom.

Cyrus Mistry, chairman of Tata Group, said, ''The Tata Group has a long history of encouraging women to achieve their potential and contribute to the community and we are delighted to work with Saudi Aramco and GE to help provide careers for women in the Kingdom and enable them to contribute to its economic progress. Saudi Arabia is a focus market for the Tata Group where we have built strong partnerships and this ambitious initiative is an example of our commitment to this market.''

GE and TCS said they will launch specialised training programs at Saudi universities and educational institutions to achieve further job creation goals.

The companies will scale up the new venture to create up to 3,000 jobs for Saudi female professionals. GE will create up to 1,000 jobs at the centre.

''We are helping to build the nation's capacity as it move towards a knowledge economy by maximising local content, adding value through integrated industrial parks, and promoting economic diversification and entrepreneurship," said Saudi Aramco president and chief executive officer Khalid A Al Falih.

He added, "In light of the demographic realities, this comprehensive framework offers a winning formula to create jobs.''

TCS currently delivers business process services from 20 service locations across 10 countries including China, Philippines, India, Hungary, United Kingdom, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Mexico and the United States.