The slow but steady trek of Entrepreneurs and Investors relocating their businesses from Kingston and other parts of the island and also setting up branches on Silicon Mountain, Mandeville is picking up momentum. The town and parish have benefited and continue to benefit from major investments in a number of key sectors.

The big question is why and why now? What is happening in Manchester that’s creating this attraction? Why are Tech Startups and other Businesses setting up shop on ‘Silicon Mountain’ Mandeville the “coolest town” in Jamaica? Businessuite sought to find out.

Entrepreneur and Investor Gassan Azan recently told a gathering of Manchester civic and business leaders that “your parish boasts a proud history of enterprise and social development, and your capital is increasingly perceived as the location of choice for both returning residents and investors. Azan said that Manchester is a “favorable environment for doing business” and expressed confidence that more investors will gradually set up business in Mandeville, which is “poised” to become the third city.

Mega Mart Superstore Located In Montego Bay

To back this up Gassan Azan this year broke ground in Mandeville, for the second largest store in his MegaMart retail chain, investing $1.2 billion in an 80,000 sq ft retail and wholesale facility. Indicating that while Bashco was his first store, and investment in Mandeville, MegaMart for him was a renewed commitment. “Once people see that Gassan Azan has come to Mandeville and has done well, other people will be moved to do business here. That is what happens in a free market economy,” he said.

Assessing the context and backdrop for the investment one observes that Manchester is making a spirited come back from the fallout from bauxite mining, which was the mainstay of the economy for over 50 years. The ALPART bauxite plant in Nain, St. Elizabeth and WINDALCO in Manchester sent home hundreds of employees and significantly reduced its operations in 2009, forced by the impact of the global recession.

Mandeville, from Bloomfield’s Great House

Diversification of the economy was therefore a key component of the resurrection of the parish. Gassan Azan said that it’s now time for Manchester to have a “planned diversification of its economy” as with the increasing unpredictability of the global market there are signs that Manchester is vulnerable to the fluctuations in the demand for bauxite and alumina.

Address the Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s (MCOC) monthly meeting at the Golf View Hotel in April, he continued saying “your parish boasts a proud history of enterprise and social development, and your capital is increasingly perceived as the location of choice for both returning residents and investors”.

He also noted and observed that the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) – is a major asset to the town’s development and combined with the human resource from the numerous high schools and colleges in the area, more than any other parish, provided a base for developing a modern service economy.

Further observation will reveal that a number of other key factors required for attracting professionals, entrepreneurs and encouraging business growth and development are present.

This central Jamaica parish is seen as one of the more affluent in the country, with a number of prominent businesses, shopping malls and plazas in addition to supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and many other business establishments and institutions either originating or opening branches there..

First Global Bank..Mandeville

With a population estimated at 50,000 in the main town and that of Greater Mandeville at over 100,000, this parish capital sits on a plateau at 2061 feet, for which it is known as the “coolest town in Jamaica”.  This makes it a favorite residential location for its salubrious climate, laidback lifestyle, quiet and peaceful environment and of course its low crime rate.

Silicon Mountain Mandeville as it is now called is replete with sprawling expensive houses and high-end apartment complexes and continues to attract professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and returning residents. A number of the island’s government officials and heads of prominent public and private organizations call the parish home.

With the Government having already completed the Kingston to May Pen leg of High Way 2000, commuting and transporting between Kingston and Mandeville is now a lot faster and smoother now that the new May Pen to Sandy Bay 10.5 kilometre-stretch of Highway 2000 East-West is open. This stretch is expected to cut the travel time from May Pen to Sandy Bay by at least two thirds from the current 18 minutes to only six minutes (driving at the permitted speed of 110km/h). Expectations are that the Sandy Bay to Williamsfield/Mandeville leg of Highway 2000 will begin shortly.

Highway 2000, a four to six controlled-access, tolled motorway with grade separated interchanges and intersections built according to modern international standards is expected to connect the capital of Kingston, Jamaica with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, passing through St. Catherine, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. Ann.

Silicon Mountain Mandeville is still unrivaled among all the towns in Jamaica due in large part to its unique lifestyle and its attractiveness for business. Those who are there and others planning to relocate are of the view that they can truly boast that Manchester is their place of choice to live, work, play, learn and operate successful businesses.

‘Silicon Mountain’ Mandeville the “coolest town” in Jamaica is truly open for business. BM

 (Compiled from published sources)