Govt. wants Dell to expand call center ops.

Panama's government has approached US computer manufacturer Dell (NasdaqNM: DELL) to consider increasing its offshore call center services in the Central American country in the event it closes divisions in India, local daily La Prensa reported. Dell has been very pleased with its call center operations in Panama and continues to recruit staff, Dell Panama representative Cara Khan was quoted as saying. There have been reports of cultural differences complicating Dell's Indian call center operations, but according to public affairs director Barry French the company does not plan to reduce its Indian operations, news service Internetnews.com reported late November. Meanwhile, five more US firms have applied to set up call centers in Panama, including Influent, which plans to invest US$2mn and hire 800 operators by the third year of operations, according to Marcos Vallarino, head of the trade and industry ministry's investment promotion agency.