Major IT contracts - Investor nets AT&T, MCI, DirectTV
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology, Philip Paulwell (left), cuts the ribbon to officially open Westcom Information Technology Company in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last Thursday. Looking on are Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar, Ralph Anglin (beside Mr. Paulwell), and Norman Anderson (right), proprietor of Westcom. - Contributed
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE NEWEST addition to the information technology (IT) sector was officially opened in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland last Thursday.
The Westcom Call Centre, operated by local entrepreneur Norman Anderson, markets products and services on behalf of large and small companies to consumers in North America. The company began operating in November last year, and has been building its clientele of local and international firms.
"It takes a lot of promotions overseas to get the international contracts. We are just starting to reap the fruits of our efforts," Mr. Anderson.
Ninety-five per cent of Westcom's customers are international companies and include AT&T, MCI Worldcom, and Direct TV. The company employs 230 people, but further expansion in the near future will employ another 1500 persons, Mr. Anderson disclosed.
He encouraged local business people to invest in the IT sector, and to take advantage of the market which exists in Europe and South America.
"My understanding is that we are one of the few local IT investors in this sector and we are in it because we see our way forward," he said. "What we need to do is pool our resources together and get the large international contracts to create employment and bring foreign exchange into Jamaica and we all make money doing it."
