Five Jamaican entrepreneurs from the Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors recently wrapped up a high-impact business mission to London aimed at unlocking new trade opportunities with the United Kingdom.

According to the British High Commission in Jamaica, the visit formed part of the UK Trade Partnership Programme (UKTP), funded by the UK Government, and delivered by the International Trade Centre (ITC), as part of wider efforts to boost Jamaica-UK trade.

The entrepreneurs are Omar Howell from Software Architects Limited; Dane Spencer, CEO, Smart Mobile Solutions; Kimone Roper, Senior Innovation Analyst, Innovate10X; Earl McDonald, CEO, VLBPO LLC; Dmitri Dawkins, Director of Software Engineering and Technology Consulting & Commercial Director, MC Systems; and Conrad Robinson, Global Digital Services Manager, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro).

“The week-long mission created powerful networking moments, including a visit to Microsoft’s London office and a special engagement with the UK Fresh Produce Network at the House of Lords,” the high commission said in a statement.

It shared that the delegation also participated in an IT roundtable and business networking reception hosted by the Jamaican High Commission, with support from Jampro.

“This programme provides an exciting opportunity for one of Jamaica’s most dynamic sectors to increase links with the UK. We are equipping Jamaican businesses with the business opportunities to compete globally,” said British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Judith Slater.

The high commission said the mission builds on capacity-building workshops held late last year and comes on the heels of the entrepreneurs attending Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest tech event, in Spain.

UKTP provides coaching, UK-focused export marketing training, and access to business to business-B2B engagements designed to turn market interest into commercial deals. It leverages the preferential trading terms available under the UK-Cariforum Economic Partnership Agreement, which offers Jamaican firms zero UK duties on almost all goods and easier market access for service providers.

The high commission noted that Jamaica’s IT and BPO sector is a cornerstone of national growth. By 2020, it had generated nearly US$900 million in revenue and employed over 60,000 professionals, according to JAMPRO.

“The UKTP mission is helping to take that success story even further, positioning Jamaica as a global hub for digital services,” said the high commission.