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The Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies says the Department of Trade and Industry has approved grants worth R157 760 000 for the Business Process Outsourcing Incentive Scheme. The grants will be disbursed to ten projects over the next three years and will create more than 11 000 jobs. Minister Davies was responding to a written parliamentary question in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

“The incentives will be utilised to offset expenditure in order to make applicants more globally competitive, when servicing offshore clients out of South Africa. The grants cover only a portion of the operational costs related to the project. Disbursements are not made upfront but are paid only after confirmation that jobs have been created,” said Minister Davies, adding that there were no additional restrictions placed over and above the normal forex regulations on how companies can utilise their grants.

Minister Davies also explained that the jobs created by the beneficiaries have to be in place for a minimum period of three years.

“This implies that if a company creates additional employment at the end of the third year it will have to retain all jobs over a period of five years. There are no further restrictions preventing companies from ceasing operations after the incentive period,” added Minister Davies.

Companies that will be receiving the grants include Old Mutual Assurance, Amicorp South Africa, Amazon Development Centre First Call Centre Solutions and Call Centre International.