Government Lauded for Emphasis on BPO Sector

Chairman of Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), Lyttleton Shirley, says the Government has wisely tapped the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as one of the key industries to “ramp up” growth and employment.

Speaking at JAMPRO’s third staging of the Jamaica Investment Forum, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James, on June 13, Mr. Shirley said that with its rich potential, the sector will now require a bank of skilled workers for its continued growth and sustainability.

“The Government has acknowledged this and has mandated its various educational arms, such as HEART Trust/National Training Agency, the numerous universities and colleges, as well as secondary schools, to harness and enhance our human capital,” Mr. Shirley said.

“The educational system is not only geared towards facilitating the present demand of the local BPO players but also to prepare it for the future demand of the industry, which we intend to move to what I consider to be a seven-star industry,” he added.

Mr. Shirley said the Government recognises that, strategically, it must be the “great facilitator” to provide the cutting-edge space for the industry to do business, employ Jamaicans and allow operators to meet investment targets.

He noted that government agencies, such as the FCJ and the Port Authority of Jamaica, have been mandated to build space at competitive rental rates to facilitate the industry’s demands.

The Chairman said that the Port Authority has more than 600,000 square feet of BPO space, facilitating the largest workforce within the industry.

He pointed out that the FCJ has evolved into the premier provider of space with more than 1.7 million square feet under its management for the various industries, such as agro-processing, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and the BPO.

“We are now mandated by the Government to provide over 1.8 million additional square feet of space over the next two years,” Mr. Shirley added.