Norbert van Liemt (CEO Teleperformance Benelux and Suriname) travels as a member of a company delegation with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Liesje Schreinemacher to Suriname. The trip, which runs from 12 to 14 September, is all about cultural, social and economic cooperation and exchange. “The interest in the combination of automation and offshoring is only increasing.”

Teleperformance has been present in Suriname since 2014. The company started on a small scale with about 100 employees and gained a lot of knowledge and experience in the first few years. In 2018, the decision was made to structural expansion and further investment with the provisional ultimate goal of 2000 employees in 2025. In July 2022, the size of the offshoring activities had already grown to 500 employees and a second location was opened.
Van Liemt about the growth rate and ambitions: “The third branch is expected to open at the beginning of 2023 and we hope to have grown towards 1.500 employees by the end of next year. We are now also preparing for a fourth location. We have the wind at our backs and are doing well. With the tightness on the Dutch labor market and the increase in the minimum wage as of 1 January – and therefore higher rates – the interest in the combination of automation and offshoring is only increasing.”

Global brands are also looking at Suriname

Suriname has a working population of roughly 150.000 people, a large part of whom live in Paramaribo. With 2.000 employees in the field of customer contact, TP will make an important mark on the labor market. “With the jobs and training that we offer internally, Surinamese can develop further, also within our organization. In addition, we are also certified in Suriname by Great Place to Work, an independent institute that conducts worldwide research into being a good employer. We find the attention for our colleagues extremely important, the certification shows that we are making the right development in this.”

The company is not only seeing increased interest from Dutch outsourcers. Global brands that work with multilingual teams at other TP locations are also looking for extra capacity for the Dutch language. “The labor market in the Netherlands is difficult, but the shortage also plays a role in other European countries where we have multilingual sites – Portugal, Greece, Turkey. So soon international clients will also be served by us from Suriname.”

Increase visibility

“We have recently invested in our relations with the Surinamese government and the Dutch embassy. For example, we have made an important contribution to the public health helpline (BOG helpline, equivalent of the GGD) during the corona pandemic. This has contributed to our visibility as a major employer with the Surinamese government. And it undoubtedly helped to be invited to accompany Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Schreinemacher,” says Van Liemt.

CCO Christian Pijnenborgh adds: “This mission helps to further put Suriname on the map as a location for services.”

Two day visit

During the two-day visit, the Prime Minister will, among other things, have a conversation with Surinamese young people about their ambitions, future plans and vision of social developments. Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) will also take part in a working lunch with representatives of Dutch companies. Later that day, Minister Schreinemacher will participate in a Business Dialogue with companies about doing business in Suriname. In addition to the various Dutch companies, VNO-NCW chairman Ingrid Thijssen is also traveling along. (Ziptone/Erik Bouwer)

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