KINGSTON, Jamaica — Telecommunications giant Digicel says it is breaking new ground in Diaspora engagement through its support for the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.

According to a release on Friday, as a connectivity provider, Digicel will be showcasing how its full suite of connectivity is geared toward maximising migration’s benefits by creating opportunities for investments, dialogue, and supporting friends and family back home.

Speaking at the official media launch on Thursday, Elon Parkinson, head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Digicel, said, “Digicel recognises the pivotal and influential role of Jamaica’s global migrant communities as key actors for national development. Their knowledge, experience, and resources can foster initiatives that accelerate our pace of economic growth. Our technology will play a leading role in bringing it all together.”

The Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference is set to run from June 16-19 in Montego Bay, St James.

According to Parkinson, the four-day event, to be held under the theme, “Uniting for Jamaica’s Transformation: Fostering Peace, Productivity and Youth Empowerment,” will come at a time when Digicel is creating bigger stepping stones for members of the Diaspora to participate in investment initiatives and innovations through the upgrade and expansion of its mobile and fibre networks across Jamaica.

He said Digicel, a Jamaican-born company, supports migrants with staying constantly connected to friends and families locally via online portals for top-ups, prepaid and postpaid plans, bill payments, and remittances via the MyCash digital wallet.

With an increasing amount of diaspora interest in private investments and entrepreneurship, the company’s business arm, Digicel Business, will engage attendees on scalable initiatives across several sectors in the local economy.

In its release Digicel announced that attendees will also get a first-hand look at the work of the company’s philanthropic arm, Digicel Foundation, which it says has been improving the lives of more  than 800,000 people through investments in community entrepreneurship, education and Special Needs, valued at over US$44 million or J$6.8 billion.

Altogether, Digicel has reportedly invested over US$3 billion or J$450 billion in Jamaica since it started in 2001.

“Above all, the conference is an opportunity for Digicel to reinforce our belief in Jamaica’s promise through the amalgamation of our individual and collective strengths. This instrumental platform will help to jump-start opportunities for Jamaicans abroad who are seeking to innovate through technology as they participate in Jamaica’s booming economy,” Parkinson concluded.