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An outsourcing business has expanded its international footprint by opening a new venture in South Africa.

Birmingham-based Sigma Connected, which offers customer contact centre services to a variety of industries including utilities and finance, has launched the new arm in Cape Town to serve the South African domestic market.

The company said it expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs.

Led by newly appointed managing director David Neale, the venture will support businesses in the telecommunications, retail, insurance, financial services, government and logistics industries.

Sigma will open a new contact centre in the Cape Town township of Mitchells Plain and a second office in the suburb of Woodstock.

Gary Gilburd, chief executive of the Sigma Connected Group, said: "As a group, we are expanding at a fast pace on an international scale.

"The launch of Sigma Connected South Africa perfectly complements our plans to move into new regions but, most of all, it allows us to bring our global outsourcing and contact centre experience to support South African businesses grow and thrive.

"Being able to take jobs to the people in the Mitchells Plain township is also an important and ground-breaking part of our plans.

"Being part of the Digicall Group gives us a unique position in the market and will allow us to hit the ground running."