$14.7 Million Allocated to Enhance Regulatory Framework for ICT Sector

A sum of $14.7 million has been set aside in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, to enhance the institutional and regulatory framework for Jamaica’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The Estimates of Expenditure were tabled on April 14 in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw.

The initiative aims to improve the sector’s competitiveness, and sustained growth.

Envisaged targets include: development of a national ICT/BPO Policy; establishing an information repository at the ICT/BPO Secretariat; designing a public education programme; and drafting progress reports on the industry’s performance.

Anticipated targets for 2016/17 include: conducting a review of existing plans, studies and projections on the BPO industry and preparing a report on the sector; reviewing existing initiatives, programmes, and plans of all government agencies involved in the ICT/BPO industry to identify areas of duplication; and develop a full map of all existing, planned and failed initiatives in the ICT/BPO sector.

Achievements up to December 2015 include the engagement of a principal coordinator for the Jamaican ICT/BPO Industry Secretariat who has commenced work.

The project, which is slated to run until September 2017, is being implemented by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank.