ROSE HALL, St James — The Government is seeking to tap into the lucrative animation industry which generated more than US$100 billion in revenue globally last year, according to Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton.

Addressing delegates at the 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Conference Centre yesterday, Hylton noted that the island is perfectly positioned to reap the benefits of the expanding industry.

“Indeed, later this week Jamaica’s business capabilities in this sector will be on display at the Kingston Animation Forum,” he emphasised. “Major global companies such as Mattel Toys, Ventabox, Toon Boom, Shadow Gang and Sheridan College will be joining us to explore Jamaica’s potential in the animation industry.”

The animation forum is intended to raise awareness about the emerging opportunities in the sector, and give visibility to the pool of Jamaican and regional artists who may be working on a freelance basis or have raw talent that can be crafted into a professional career.

Animation is a major growth industry in the global Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, estimated to be worth roughly US$222 billion.

Hylton is confident that Jamaica will get a fair slice of the expanding market, citing several advantages which he said include:

* common language with the major content producers: the US, Canada, and the UK;

* proximity and time zone which allow for real time collaboration; and

* rich cultural legacy built on the technical and creative outputs of our young people, who have a natural inclination for the animation industry.

He noted that several of the agencies in the industry, investment and commerce ministry already service the cultural and creative industries.

“There is a Cultural and Creative Industries desk with JAMPRO, where extensive promotional work is currently taking place — particularly in the film industry — while the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), deals with brands, trademarks and other forms of licensing.

He added that the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is being restructured to play a greater supportive role to cultural and creative entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Hylton who was speaking on the topic: ‘Jamaica’s Growth and Investment Strategy and Vision 2030 Jamaica National Plan’, told the conference that Jamaica is on a strong growth trajectory to become the leading regional destination for investments in ICT, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries.

He said that the BPO sector is one of the fastest generators of employment and Government’s goal is to at least double the existing capacity and employment generation within the sector.

“It is currently a US$200-million industry in Jamaica employing some 14,000 persons. Within the context of increased demand for near-shore ICT services, diversified investments within the sector will create increased backward and forward linkages, thereby increasing the multiplier effect in the economy,” he argued.

This year’s conference, which is being held under the theme: ‘A Nation on a Mission: Jamaica — Diaspora Partnership for Development’, seeks to build on the legacy of Jamaica 50, by exploring defined opportunities for the diaspora to expand their business interests in Jamaica through increased trade and investment, large and small.

More than 700 delegates are in attendance at the conference which began on Sunday and will end tomorrow.