JAMAICA THE Digital Island is being promoted as the foremost location for call centres in the Caribbean as part of a public/private sector programme led by Industry and Technology Minister, Mr. Phillip Paulwell.
According to a release from the Ministry, the launch was made at a press briefing at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Monday chaired by Trade Commissioner Diane Edwards.
Mr. Paulwell told journalists that Jamaica is fast becoming the leading regional player in the information technology (IT) industry. He pointed out that Jamaica's information technology sector encompasses the range of low end to high end services with a concentration on medium end services. There are 93 IT companies and affiliated organisations.
He said that the Government is promoting the sector through the INTEC Project. The elements of this programme include a loan fund, quick-start facilities, a venture capital fund and training.
An important element will be the passage of e-commerce legislation. This will address electronic signatures, banking and privacy.
Stable workforce
Jamaica's attractiveness was enhanced by its stable workforce with a turn-over rate of less than 5 per cent compared to 70 per cent in the UK. Skilled labour is accessible through a database and experience has shown the Jamaican IT worker to be skilled both in software development and in telemarketing.
During this week the Minister and his team will be meeting a number of company representatives who have call centres in the UK.
On Tuesday, he was the special guest of the EXCELL IT Trade Show where he met several UK IT company representatives.
On Wednesday the Minister met with The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman David Howard at Mansion House, whom he presented with a copy of Jamaica's Information Technology Strategic Plan.
The Minister spoke of the emphasis that Jamaica is placing on information technology as an instrument for growth. To achieve this several steps had been taken including the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry.
These moves had already resulted in a major new investment from Ireland though Mossel in a new cellular telephone company.
According to the Minister there was room for further profitable investment from Europe and he felt that the City of London provided an ideal channel to facilitate this investment.
The Lord Mayor of London, who welcomed the initiatives taken by Jamaica, will be leading an investment mission to Jamaica next month. The visit will also include Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
