KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz is leading a high-level delegation on a fact-finding visit to the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector in the Phillippines.  

The other members of the Jamaican delegation include Fayval Williams, minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service;  Ambassador Aubyn Hill, investment ambassador to India; Paula Kerr-Jarrett,  representative of the Economic Growth Council; Maxine Wilson, chair of the HEART Trust /NTA; Gloria Henry, assistant Vice President Operations and Customer Relations, Port Authority of Jamaica and operations manager, Montego Bay Free Zone; and Shane Angus, manager, Knowledge Services, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).

A news release from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation said during the visit, the Jamaican delegation will meet with their Philippine counterparts to examine how the information technology and BPO sectors have successfully driven job creation and economic growth, as well as the measures that were employed to attract and grow the outsourcing industry in that country.

Among the issues to be discussed are the fiscal incentives framework; education and training support, as well as infrastructure development.

While there, the ministry said the Jamaican delegation will also engage in site visits to Technology Parks and Special Economic Zones to understand best practices in infrastructure development to attract investors.  

They are also expected to meet with prospective investors and key stakeholders to gain an understanding of how industry players in the Philippines are financed and supported, and will attend the Information Technology and Business Process Management Summit, which will be held on October 28, 2016.

The Philippines is reportedly one of the top outsourcing countries around the globe, with over 700 IT and BPO firms as well as global in-house centres, located in that country.

The IT/BPO industry, which emerged in 2000, has provided direct employment for more than 640,000 people and indirect employment for another 1.6 million individuals in the Philippines. The sector has also reportedly earned US$11 billion in revenue for the country.

The Government of Jamaica has identified the BPO sector as one of the growth and job creation sectors. According to Minister Vaz, “the timing is perfect to take advantage of the Philippines model of attracting BPO investments to our shores”.

He noted that “ten thousand jobs over the next 12 months is doable”, adding that given its several advantages including language and location, Jamaica has vast potential to attract investments in the IT/BPO sector.