World Bank A Key Partner In Staging Of KingstOOn 2016

World Bank Country Manager for Jamaica, Galina Sotirova, says her institution’s support for KingstOOn 2016 is part of an overall strategy to boost employment generation among young people in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

She was addressing a recent JIS Think Tank ahead of next month’s second staging of the animation conference and film festival.

The World Bank is a major partner in the two-day event, slated for March 12 and 13 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston under the theme: ‘Learn Earn and Display’.

It will provide an avenue for Jamaica’s growing number of animators to showcase their talent, while honing their skills through workshops, competitions and interactions with established animators from the island and overseas.

Ms. Sotirova noted that the animation industry offers huge opportunities for Jamaica through the outsourcing of skills.

“Outsourcing in the animation industry is providing a huge opportunity for the Caribbean and for Jamaica, as there are numbers of young people who are talented, tech savvy and interested in creativity and innovation,” she pointed out.

She commended the Government of Jamaica for staging the event for the second time and extending it to the wider region. “Jamaica has been a leader in the development of the digital industry and getting these opportunities available for the young people of the country,” Ms. Sotirova said.

Ms. Sotirova said she is anticipating a large turnout for the festival, and expects tangible results from the exposure, knowledge, training and networking that will take place.

KingstOOn 2016 is organised by Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. Other partners include the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), JAMPRO, Wacom, TV Paint, Esirom and Toonboom.