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Gov’t Exploring Revision of Special Economic Zones Act

By: , March 16, 2018

The Key Point:

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. the Hon. Horace Chang, says the Government is exploring possible revision of sections of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, to enable stakeholders to keep pace with the fast-growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.
Gov’t Exploring Revision of Special Economic Zones Act
Photo: Adrian Walker
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang.

The Facts

  • “As this sector has rapidly evolved, we realize that there are opportunities to revise sections of this Act. These will be pursued with great haste as this Government seeks to assert its commitment to the efficient development of these specialized zones,” he outlined.
  • Dr. Chang said the Administration acknowledges the industry’s substantive value in relation to job creation, training and economic development and, in this regard, established the National BPO Task Force to focus on providing as much support as possible to the sector’s new entrants.

The Full Story

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. the Hon. Horace Chang, says the Government is exploring possible revision of sections of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, to enable stakeholders to keep pace with the fast-growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

“As this sector has rapidly evolved, we realize that there are opportunities to revise sections of this Act. These will be pursued with great haste as this Government seeks to assert its commitment to the efficient development of these specialized zones,” he outlined.

The Minister was speaking at the official opening of Concentrix Global, at the Montego Bay Freezone in St. James on Friday (March 16).

Dr. Chang said the Administration acknowledges the industry’s substantive value in relation to job creation, training and economic development and, in this regard, established the National BPO Task Force to focus on providing as much support as possible to the sector’s new entrants.

He contended that the industry’s rapid development is a “significant indicator” of the Jamaican workforce’s readiness to offer world class services to an international market.

Noting that BPO accounts for more than 22,000 new jobs under the current Administration’s tenure, the Minister said the sector is “poised, by the end of 2018, to increase that number by at least 5,000.”

Dr. Chang said, however, that achieving this requires Government’s collaboration and coordination with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that “we have the appropriate manpower and that we can produce them in the numbers required.”

“We will be working closely with the training and education institutions to ensure that we can continue to grow and expand (the industry) in a smooth and efficient way,” he further stated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chang said mushrooming BPO enterprises have been positively impacting economic activity, particularly in Montego Bay.

He noted that through the Port Authority of Jamaica, several thousand square feet of purpose-built space is being made available to developers in the Montego Bay Free Zone, which, he said, is ripe for business.

“This Government recognizes that we must meet the demands of this fast-paced industry by providing structured support and tenancy space to investors willing to engage our young graduates and professionals,” Dr. Chang stated.

Last Updated: April 3, 2018

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