Uzbekistan/Tashkent, May 2024 – In under six months since the signing of a EUR 60 million investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Mplus, a top European player in Business Process Technology Outsourcing (BPTO), is swiftly moving in on concrete collaboration initiatives. Mplus is advancing plans to select Uzbekistan as its next regional outsourcing and technology center. A recent visit by Mplus Türkiye representatives focused on evaluating local infrastructure and market conditions with the goal of launching business operations and creating jobs in Uzbekistan and beyond.
Pictured from left to right: Farkhod Ibragimov, the General Director of IT Park, and his team; Mplus Türkiye representatives. Photo: IT Park Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan boasts a highly skilled workforce. With 5 million English speakers and over 500,000 German speakers, the country presents an enticing prospect for BPO operations.
During their most recent visit to the country, Mplus executives Hakan Saran, Ogan Atasagun, Barış Şanlıoğlu, and Burak Akar met with Farkhod Ibragimov, the General Director of IT Park, and his team to explore collaboration prospects.
Discussions covered the selection of suitable office locations and determining residency terms for the company, among other topics.
Mplus expressed an interest in the Zero Risk program, an initiative designed to facilitate the establishment of foreign businesses in the country, signaling intentions to set up its initial branch in either the Tashkent region or Samarkand.
Additionally, preliminary interviews were conducted with prospective candidates for employment at the new contact center.
In an interview with IT Park, Ogan Atasagun, the Chief Solution Officer at Mplus Türkiye, highlighted the positive aspects of the business environment in Uzbekistan.
He emphasized professionalism, robust government support, and strategic location as key factors making Uzbekistan a secure and promising investment destination.
Mplus Türkiye representatives: Hakan Saran, Ogan Atasagun, Burak Akar and Barış Şanlıoğlu. Photo: IT Park Uzbekistan
Expansion Supported by EBRD
The plans for a strategic move into Uzbekistan align with Mplus' broader BPO expansion strategy, particularly in Central Asia.
Founded and based in Croatia, Mplus has established itself as a prominent BPO industry player. Through its BPO division, Mplus operates across 15 countries and delivers top-tier services to a diverse global clientele, offering support in more than 30 languages.
Mplus's latest expansion efforts have been supported by the recent EUR 60 million investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Mplus's BPO division, M Plus Croatia.
With the planned expansion, Mplus plans to unlock new avenues of growth in the BPO sector, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence.
The planned Uzbekistan entry underscores Mplus's ambition to enter emerging markets and reflects its dedication to fostering local talent and contributing to the economic development of the regions in which it operates.
About Mplus Group:
Mplus Group (Meritus ulaganja d.d.) is a leading European company that operates in the contact center, information technology, employment services (HR), e-commerce, and, pending the finalization of the investment in Panvita Group in 2024, food industries.
With its innovative business model, Mplus Group accelerated its presence on the market with intensive organic growth and an M&A platform based on a buy-and-build strategy. Since 2016, 57 companies have been acquired, and a diversified portfolio of international clients has been secured.
The Mplus Group has four business verticals: the BPTO vertical, which consists of the umbrella company M Plus Croatia d.o.o. and its subsidiaries; the HR vertical and companies that operate as part of the Workplace Group and the Manpower brand; the eCommerce business vertical, which, under the brand name Eplus Ventures, consists of companies that operate according to a common eCommerce business model; and the newest, agri-food vertical, which consists of companies within the Panvita Group.
In its ownership structure, Mplus Group brings together pension funds, institutional investors, international private equity funds, development institutions, and private investors. The Mplus business community consists of over 13,800 employees, and the Group provides its services to clients who, in addition to Croatia, do business in 57 countries worldwide.
