THE Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) is banking on five of the country’s largest sectors to pull in investments of more than US$1 billion ($115 billion) into the economy.

The trade and investment agency is now gearing up for the second staging of the Jamaica Investment Forum (JIF). The first forum in 2012 generated more than US$500 million worth of projects for the country, in addition to the employment of some 2000 individuals.

The forum, which will be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre over a two-day period beginning March 10, is targeting business process outsourcing, tourism, manufacturing, agribusiness and the financial services sectors to build a logistics-centred economy.

Jampro president and chief executive officer Diane Edwards, who was speaking at the 2015 JIF press briefing on Tuesday, stated that there is a need to accelerate employment growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector along with new opportunities in tourism sector, such as health, wellness and medical tourism.

“The 2015 Forum is much more focused on marketable and bankable projects,” she said.

“We have undertaken a broad consultation with the public and private sector to identify collaboration opportunities for public private partnerships, sale, lease and joint ventures. We have also undertaken direct targeting of investors for these projects and on top of that we have over US$1 billion dollars’ worth of projects on show,” Edwards added.

Global investors coming out of North America, Pakistan, Turkey, China, India, Spain, France and the United Kingdom are registered to attend what is termed as ‘Jamaica’s premier international and business conference’.

The forum will also see executive level representatives from a number of organisations, including Aegis, CEMEX, Accor Hotel and Resorts and the Wyndham Hotel Group.

Jampro chairman Milton Samuda reckons that this staging of the JIF will surpass the success of the previous year, following reports of an improved macro economic and fiscal position of the country. A significant movement was seen in Jamaica being ranked as the number one country for doing business in the Caribbean.

“We have narrowed our focus because you have to go where you can get the biggest bang for your buck in terms of the direct investment itself, the capital investment and the creation of jobs,” Samuda told the Jamaica Observer.

He added that by establishing connections with emerging markets like China, more local entrepreneurs might be encouraged to look at the potential in overseas markets.

“For a country like China, Jamaica is at the doorstep of three big markets — the USA, Canada and South America. So from a logistics point of view, getting goods and services into Jamaica makes sense in order to access those markets,” he told the Caribbean Business Report.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton, stated that JIF is a signature event in Jamaica’s broader foreign investment attraction strategy, which focuses on positioning Jamaica as a leading investment destination.

The forum will allow investors and business executives to get an exclusive preview of select investment opportunities, find new prospects, meet key players, network, and gain insight on Jamaica’s overall economic plans for the future.

“This is an integral part of achieving the goals of the country’s economic growth agenda and in delivering GDP growth and jobs,” Hylton stated.