MONTEGO BAY, St James — Chief executive officer at the National Commercial Bank (NCB), Patrick Hylton, is urging Jamaicans in the Diaspora to explore investment opportunities in the island in an effort to improve their personal circumstances and contribute to the country’s economic advancement.

Hylton was speaking during NCB’s recent hosting of the Monday Club — a social event held across Montego Bay on a monthly basis.

“I am encouraging all Jamaicans in the various Diaspora communities to look at Jamaica as an investment opportunity and see if there are things that they are doing or would like to do which would add value to their personal circumstances, as well as the Jamaican community,” said Hylton.

“We want to encourage as much participation from the Jamaican Diaspora communities. Jamaica needs the support and investment of the Diaspora. It is not just giving back to Jamaica. There are real opportunities [that] exist in Jamaica, which members of the Diaspora can consider.”

Hylton argued that as a financial institution, NCB is always ready to examine all investment possibilities and to provide investment advisory to members of the Diaspora. “Let’s start the conversation,” he urged.

And turning his attention to locally-based investors, Hylton hailed members of the Montego Bay business community for their insightful vision to expand their businesses and largely to help grow the country’s economy.

He noted that business operators in that resort city have “very interesting and insightful plans” to grow their existing businesses and enter new ventures.

“We want to be a part of that and we were happy to be in Montego Bay to hear first-hand about some of those plans.”

He told the gathering that NCB’s recently opened multifaceted investment at Fairview, Montego Bay, is a timely investment, which shows the bank’s unflinching commitment to the development of the western city and its people.

“It is a tangible way of us demonstrating our appreciation of what is happening in Montego Bay and the seriousness of our commitment to Montego Bay,” he emphasised.