Governor Togiola signs MOU with InfoTech to open local call center
Governor Togiola Tulafono has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the American Samoa Government and Information Technologies American Samoa (InfoTech), a company that has been planning to open a call center operation in American Samoa for over two years.
The purpose of the MOU is to identify, with clarity, what each party will provide.
The presence of the call center industry in the territory is a long time coming, with the fiber optic cable project expected to become a reality by the end of the year. Having an undersea fiber optic connection to the world provides an opportunity for intellectual service companies to locate in the territory.
The Governor said on his weekend radio program that the agreement for laying the fiber optic cable will soon be signed, and the cable is expected to be laid in November and be on our shores by December.
“The signing of the MOU marks the official beginning of a project that has the potential to be the most important economic development initiative ever undertaken in American Samoa,” said Governor Togiola. “The call center is a creative way to take advantage of our uniqueness. We are Americans and have excellent English language skills. Thus, this is the type of true economic development we need.”
Togiola said the call centers will not only bring money and ideas to our islands, it will also provide excellent new and high level job opportunities for thousands of our people.
The InfoTech call center is the first of many potential “intellectual service” companies looking to American Samoa as a venue to set up shop. The call centers will boost the local economy, as the companies are looking to hire 2,000 local workers each.
(Intellectual service describes companies offering services requiring special skills in areas like computers, public relations, graphic arts, website design, accounting, reading, math, data storage and many more. The special English language skills available on island, combined with the status as a territory of the United States, makes American Samoa a very attractive location for intellectual service providers).
InfoTech is yet to finalize a site for their operations, although suggested sites have included the Tafuna Industrial Park and the area near the Veterans Stadium.
The MOU was presented to Governor Togiola for signing in June of 2007. The plan was to sign the MOU once ASG was in substantial agreement to bring the PacRim East undersea fiber cable to American Samoa. The parties have discussed all the provisions of the MOU and the Governor has expressed his agreement with the document. The final signing of the document came after several months of planning and review.
Governor Togiola expressed his delight with the official signing of the MOU and says he looks forward to the call center bringing in many benefits for the territory.
InfoTech CEO Mark Hunsaker said the company is excited about the project as it provides excellent employment opportunities for community college and secondary school graduates.
“You will be seeing a great deal of activity here as we start site preparation, begin construction, advertise job opportunities, and begin training programs,” he said, adding that young people graduating from high school or ASCC and planning to leave the island for employment should “reconsider before traveling,” because the call center has the potential to provide the kind of opportunity for which they may be looking.
With the MOU, InfoTech will now be able to complete contracts with their clients, finalize financing, and begin building almost immediately. In addition to direct employment at the call center, many support businesses will be required, like computer support, electronics, electrical, air conditioning, maintenance, security, food service, recreation and transportation. Existing services will expand their operations and new companies will be established to service the call center.
The call center will be paying well above current average wages, so there will be a need for more vehicles, new housing, high-end clothing and other merchandise not affordable by most workers in the territory.
New developments, job opportunities, and other exciting news will be available through the local media, and email inquiries may be sent to info@infotechsamoa.com
InfoTech requests that you do not inquire about employment unless you are replying to specific employment opportunity advertisements. InfoTech would like to hear from you now if you have call center experience as a supervisor or trainer.
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