MoBay to get ‘business accelerator centre in 2025’, says Bennett Templer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sancia Bennett Templer, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, says the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) will launch several initiatives in 2025 to streamline the authority’s interactions with clients, including the creation of a business accelerator centre in Montego Bay, St James.

Addressing yesterday’s Global Services Association of Jamaica’s (GSAJ’s) President’s Breakfast Forum at the Grand-a-View Event Place in Montego Bay, Bennett Templer said the JSEZA’s planned enterprises would serve to stabilise and expand the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

“JSEZA has implemented two online platforms, the customer relationship management system and the self-reporting monitoring instrument, both of which are geared towards fast-tracking the submission of reports, documents, and applications, as well as simplifying interactions in an efficient and productive way between the authority and its clients,” she said. “Additionally, within the first quarter of the next calendar year, JSEZA will open a business accelerator centre right here in Montego Bay in an effort to eliminate the need for businesses and BPO companies having to venture to Kingston to do business with the authority.

“JSEZA is also in the process of working to streamline the special economic zone (SEZ) regime, and stakeholders will have been taking part in consultations over the past several weeks to provide feedback on what is working, and areas for strengthening, plus the Government and the private sector collaborating together for improvement and growth.

“A working group, including both public and private partners, has been established, focusing on how to strategise to move the sector forward in the midst of varying issues facing the industry at this time.

“This public-private approach is key to achieving stability and growth for the sector and realising the increasing potential of Jamaica’s global distribution system.”

The JSEZA, which was formed in 2016 under the Special Economic Zones Act, is responsible for developing and promoting investments in SEZs in Jamaica, with the country currently housing 198 SEZ sites. Prior to the JSEZA’s formation, Jamaica’s first SEZ was formed in 1976 as the Kingston Free Zone, with the Montego Bay Free Zone being established in 1988.

Bennett Templer also noted that the Ministry of Industry will roll out 30 new services during the coming year to enhance businesses’ online transactions with the Government of Jamaica.

“The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, through our agency JAMPRO, launched the Jamaica Business Gateway to make it easier to do business with the Government. At this time, there are some 14 essential government services which can be accessed via that Jamaica gateway portal, where companies can go online and directly interact and transact their business with the Government, and there are plans to add 30 more such transactions in 2025,” she said.

“The Government has been providing incentives to encourage innovation and digital transformation, fostering an environment that is conducive to high-quality research and development in technology and artificial intelligence, and engaging in public-private collaborations that intentionally stimulate innovation. This forms part of a broader strategy to further develop and expand high-potential BPO and KPO [knowledge-process outsourcing] sectors, which are critical for the country’s digital transformation and global competitiveness,” she added.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com