Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground for an additional 63,000 square feet of office space to facilitate expansion of the growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, in Montego Bay last Friday.

The building, which is expected to be completed by early next year, is being constructed in the Montego Bay Free Zone.

Speaking at the ceremony, Holness said the new facility will further cement Jamaica’s place as a major player in the global BPO sector.

“The 63,000 square feet will increase BPO type space by 10 per cent within the Montego Bay Free Zone, and bring total space in the Zone to 665,000 square feet,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the country continues to leverage its position in the international BPO market.

Holness, in citing Montego Bay’s top position in the local BPO sector, pointed out that it is a major source of employment for Jamaicans, while providing support for other industries.

“Montego Bay currently accounts for 11,000 of the over 18,000 employed agents in Jamaica’s BPO sector. The Montego Bay Free Zone supports manufacturing and warehousing as well…but BPO operations occupy more than 60 per cent of the space, generate 98 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, and account for more than 96 per cent of employment in the Zone,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that although the BPO sector continues to grow at a rapid rate, with a 16 per cent growth in the last financial year, the Government is pushing for even further expansion of the industry.

“You have the potential to double and triple your current employment. Economic growth must mean employment, so we are not going after jobless growth. we are going after inclusive growth, which means that the people of the country must benefit from the growth,” the Prime Minister said.

The BPO industry, which began in the Montego Bay Free Zone in 1985, has over 35 companies operating in the country.