Jamaica is set to launch its re-imagined outsourcing proposition to hundreds of entrepreneurs, business leaders and executives from multinational corporations, global startups and trade promotion organisations when the country hosts the upcoming Outsource to Latin America and the Caribbean Global Digital Services Summit (O2LAC) from June 14 -15 in Montego Bay.

Jamaica will be the first English-speaking nation from the Latin America and Caribbean bloc to host this Summit, which will be its ninth edition. O2LAC was created by the Inter-American Development Bank’s Integration and Trade Sector with the goal of unleashing the region’s full potential in the global digital services sector. Business leaders will learn about breakthroughs in emerging technologies such as AI. They will discover advanced capabilities in strategic Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), as well as identify new business opportunities through B2B and B2G matchmaking events.

As Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable, Aubyn Hill, explains that “O2LAC presents a prime opportunity for the Government of Jamaica and its partners to introduce Jamaica’s re-energized global digital services sector offerings to the largest gathering of prospective services buyers and suppliers in the region. We have been working hard to enhance and elevate Jamaica’s product offerings and the launch of our new Global Campaign at O2LAC will communicate our unique value proposition, and cement our brand in the minds of executives, entrepreneurs and experts as the superior option for global businesses seeking to upscale their outsourcing goals and growth results”.

Jamaica is already a mature Outsourcing location and home to companies such as Conduent, Itel, Sutherland Global, Sagility, Startek and IBEX. Most of these companies provide services to some of the top Fortune 50 businesses. With over 85 companies currently in operation and annual revenue close to US$1billion, while employing over 60,000 people, the country has the largest Outsourcing Sector in the English-speaking Caribbean. Special Economic Zone incentives allow for duty concessions and reduced corporate income taxes, and continuous investments in telecoms and electricity infrastructure ensure stable power and broadband capabilities that make Jamaica a destination of choice.

The new National Investment Policy includes a raft of economic policies, initiatives and support measures designed to make it easier to establish businesses in the country. The continual efforts of Jamaica’s Global Digital Services Sector (GDSS) Project to enhance training, certification and create new job opportunities within the sector, will re- energize the Jamaican market to welcome a new cadre of Fortune 1,000 companies.

President of Jamaica Promotion Corporation (JAMPRO), Shullette Cox, says, “What we will be discussing at O2LAC will be vital to ensuring that business leaders understand how they can harness the full potential of Jamaica’s expanding global digital services sector. We will specifically demonstrate how Jamaica’s offerings can be tailored to solve any concerns in the global digital services sector. For instance, in the area of skills training, we are continuously enhancing our capabilities. Through the GDSS Project we are creating training, apprenticeship, internship, certification and train-the-trainer programmes. When these are coupled with the GDSS Talent Hub and Career Pathway Framework, we will be able to connect consistently thousands of talented Jamaicans with the specialised training which will enable them to work in the sector. The campaign launch will enable far greater understanding of how best to access and synergise the
very best outsourcing services that Jamaica has to offer.”

O2LAC is expected to attract up to 600 local, regional and international attendees. Event speakers include: Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable, Aubyn Hill; Manager, Integration and Trade Sector, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Fabrizio Opertti; Deputy Director of AI for Good Research Lab, Rahul Dodhia; Head of Global Services for Carrier, Steve Rudderham; President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica, Anand Biradar; and several Latin American business leaders along with other representatives from the IDB.

Fabrizio Opertti, IDB Manager of the Integration and Trade Sector stated, “We believe in Latin America and the Caribbean’s potential as a global service delivery platform, offering unrivaled quality, early technology adoption, and contributions from SMEs, entrepreneurs, and startups. Outsource2LAC is instrumental in consolidating our regions position as major player in global digital services exports”;. The Global Digital Services Sector is projected to grow to US$1 Trillion by 2025 with business outsourcing in Latin America and the Caribbean accounting for over $10 billion in regional revenues and investment. As the country named the Best Caribbean Nation for Doing Business by Forbes (2019), Jamaica is aiming to build on its impressive performance in the industry to catapult its way to being the premier Outsourcing destination in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information about O2LAC and to review the agenda, please visit

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Expo Jamaica 2023 provides the opportunity for businesses to jump-start exports coming out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, says President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), John Mahfood.

“We see this as an event to re-energise our manufacturers, who are now gearing up and putting behind us, the recovery mode or survival mode and now looking to expand their businesses overseas,” he said.

“My expectation is that this, more than any other Expo, will bring us together and galvanise the effort at exporting,” he added.

Mr. Mahfood was speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank held at the agency’s head office in Kingston.

The 48th staging of Expo Jamaica, under the theme: ‘Connecting the World to Jamaica’ will be held from April 27 to 30 at the National Indoor Sports Centre and the National Arena.

Mr. Mahfood said that the four-day event will enable Jamaican businesses to meet and develop relationships with various buyers and distributors from all over the globe over a short period of time and at one location.

He said it would be difficult and costly for local entrepreneurs to make these contacts if they had to travel to seek these markets by themselves.

“So, imagine if you were to visit all of the countries in the Caribbean and spend three or five days trying to find distributors for your products? It would take a significantly long time to go through every country and it would be very expensive,” he pointed out.

Noting that the business sector has faced challenges due to COVID-19, Mr. Mahfood said that “Jamaica has bounced back in a strong way.”

“We are at a point where we have to be thinking strategically about growing our businesses. We have many years of good fortune to come, and this is the greatest opportunity for our businesspeople to step up and step out of the conservative mode that we have been in, and that is what I hope we will see from this expo,” he said.

The first two days of Expo Jamaica 2023 have been reserved exclusively for buyers to transact business with exhibitors.

Expo Jamaica will be held from April 27 to 30 at the National Indoor Sports Centre and the National Arena in Kingston, under the theme: ‘Connecting the World to Jamaica.’

Speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, Senior Sales and Promotion Manager at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Ricardo Durant, said that April 27 and 28 have been set aside for buyers to meet with local manufacturers and other providers of goods and services, and explore all options for doing business.

He is urging entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity by registering for the tradeshow at www.expojamaica.com.jm. Persons can also visit Instagram @expojamaica or email expojamaica@jmea.org for further information.

“Remember, senior decision-makers from companies will be present to discuss business with you; don’t miss that opportunity. It is a good opportunity to do business right in that environment all to yourself,” he pointed out.

Mr. Durant told JIS News that about 374 buyers from 20 countries have so far registered for the Expo, noting that 51 per cent are repeat buyers while 49 per cent are new.

“So, this amount of repeat and new buyers is a good balance for the event. This shows that we are renewing and improving enough for previous buyers to remain interested and of course, we are generating new interest and we are very pleased with that,” he said.

Further, he informed that 38 of the registered buyers are from CARICOM countries and there are 15 non-CARICOM members, including Cuba, British Virgin Islands and the United States (US) Virgin Islands.

He said that JAMPRO is also targeting buyers from China, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and from unknown traditional markets.

“Apart from our traditional partners, such as the USA and Canada, United Kingdom and CARICOM, we have also seen registration from as far as Ghana and the Middle East,” Mr. Durant told JIS News.

“So, JAMPRO is pleased with the level of in

Jamaica will be the host to the International Conference on Inclusive Insurance (ICII) scheduled to take place 24 th  to the 28 th  of October 2022 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The hybrid Conference is being hosted by the Insurance Association of Jamaica in partnership with the Munich Re Foundation and the Microinsurance Network. It will attract over 400 international delegates from over 50 countries.

President of the Insurance Association of Jamaica, (IAJ) Sharon Donaldson stated that it is the first time in 20 years that the conference is being held in the Caribbean and Jamaica is extremely proud to be the host country.

The conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to present and discuss issues, policies, and state-of-the-art solutions for efficient, sustainable, and inclusive insurance products; and promote the development and proliferation of good-value insurance for emerging economies. It also aims to enhance awareness of the demand for insurance in the low-income segment and its potential.

According to Donaldson many countries have large informal sectors which face a range of challenges, including the death of a breadwinner, precarious traditional livelihoods, compromised food security and damage to homes and infrastructure due to the climate crisis. Also citing the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected children’s education and caused many small businesses to close their doors, she said “many low-income groups are often unaware of steps they can take to protect themselves financially. The insurance industry has a critical role to play to provide innovative insurance and financial products and education geared to these groups” she said.

Dirk Reinhard, Vice Chair, Munich Re Foundation and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the ICII 2022 said that risk management including insurance plays a key role to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Recent floods, droughts and wildfires have shown that climate change threatens the livelihood of billions of people that do not have access to affordable safety nets. Small island states are particularly vulnerable which is why we are very honored that IAJ is hosting this year’s International Conference on Inclusive Insurance in Jamaica and for the first time in the Caribbean. How to reach scale in small countries will be among the key topics that will be discussed at this conference,” Reinhard stated.

Katharine Pulvermacher, Executive Director of the Microinsurance Network, said: “Insurance has the potential to make a significant and enduring contribution to public policy goals and to closing the global people protection gap. Only a tiny fraction of emerging customers and small-scale producers around the world have insurance of any kind, even for smaller, more frequent risks that can have a devastating effect on their economic well-being. This presents a clear opportunity for the insurance sector – one that we conservatively estimate to be worth at least USD 66 billion per year, increasing as the resilience of the people and producers insured flourishes over time. We are delighted to partner again with the Munich Re Foundation and the Insurance Association of Jamaica for this impactful event to support the development of sustainable, inclusive insurance.”

Apart from insurance industry representatives, business persons, development partners, multilateral agencies, technology companies, academia, other policy experts and media are also encouraged to attend.

About Munich Re Foundation
The Munich Re Foundation based in Germany uses their knowledge of risk for the service of humanity. Their main aim is to prepare people to cope with risk and to improve their living conditions.

About the Microinsurance Network 
The Microinsurance Network is the global multi-stakeholder platform for professionals and organisations that are committed to making insurance inclusive. Membership-based, we bring together diverse stakeholders from across the value chain who share our vision of a world where people of all income levels are more resilient and less vulnerable to daily and catastrophic risks. We encourage peer-to-peer exchange and learning, facilitate the generation of knowledge and research, and act as advocates, promoting the role that effective risk management tools, including insurance, play in supporting the broader development agenda.

Tourism stakeholders converged at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Thursday (March 31), for the industry’s seventh annual speed networking event.

The engagement was hosted by the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN), in collaboration with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

It attracted approximately 50 tourism entities and over 90 buyers, seeking to take advantage of networking opportunities.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in his address during the opening ceremony, said the participating buyers and sellers were important, as they form a critical component of the industry’s consumption patterns.

Mr. Bartlett, who noted that the consumption pattern was boundless, said it requires corresponding production outflows.

“The production side must be as strong and effective to meet the demand side,” he stated.

Mr. Bartlett further underscored the need for a “new and exciting” industry production process.

“I think we have to look at how to create something of a supply logistics centre that is not only going to drive production, but also provide [the] ability for us to respond to the demand which is in the rest of the Caribbean,” he said.

This, the Minister added, “because they are all suffering from the same shortages that we are [experiencing].”

“They are [experiencing] the same effect of the disruption in the supply chain; but Jamaica has become that centre for response to them,” Mr. Bartlett stated.

The speed networking event featured a series of 15-minute pre-scheduled meetings between managing directors, general managers, and chief executive officers of local supplier companies of products and services, and owners and managers of properties, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism entities.
Source JIS