More space for BPO operations

Work is under way by the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Factories Corporation of Jamaica to construct more than 250,000 square feet of new purpose-built space and to retrofit an additional 50,000 square feet of existing buildings for outsourcing service.

This was disclosed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during his contribution to the 2017-18 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He said that in February 2016, the building space available to the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector was 800,000 square feet, located in Montego Bay and Kingston primarily, with some emerging developments in Mandeville.

He said this space was occupied by 44 companies that employed 18,500 persons.

Job creation

"In the last year, the available space has grown by 65 per cent to 1.3 million square feet. The number of firms has grown to 50 and the employment has expanded to more than 22,000 employees, a creation of just under 5,000 jobs," the prime minister noted.

"In addition to the six new entrants employing 600 employees, the existing companies have expanded employment by more than 4,000. These companies include Hinduja Global Services, ITEP BPO Smart Services, IBEX Jamaica, Advanced Call Center Technologies, Xerox/Conduent, Nearshore Inbound Call Experts and Sutherland Global," he added.

Holness said approximately 800,000 square feet of space are under construction by the private sector across the country, including Stanley Motta, constructing more than 250,000 square feet of new and retrofitted space in Half-Way Tree; GraceKennedy, retrofitting over 60,000 square feet in downtown Kingston; and Ferry BPO, constructing 50,000 square feet in St Catherine.