Jamaica is the third-largest English-speaking country in the Western Hemisphere, known for being the land of wood, water, beaches, and reggae. Jamaica was a gem waiting to be discovered. A diamond in the rough just waiting for the right investor(s) to recognize its value.
The number one sector and earner for the country has always been tourism but for a few years now other areas are starting to pop up. Sectors such as Finance, Real Estate, Media, Logistics, BPO, etc. The country is breaking away from being too dependent on tourism as the country’s economic backbone.
Boasting one of the largest financial institutions (NCBFG) in the Caribbean, Jamaica is poised to become a financial hub. Kingston is slated to become the financial capital of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Jamaica has the most heavily traded stock exchange in the Caribbean and in 2019 it was the best-performing stock market in the world.
With many companies seeking to get listed on the exchange each year, an investor can’t ask for more. Jamaica provides the same access to capital as its counterparts. While not at the level of countries like the US and the UK, the country is going in the right direction and will eventually become one of the top players.
Being the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean, Jamaica attracts a lot of investments from the BPO sector. Within the last few years, we have seen BPO spaces going up everywhere in many different parishes.
Companies such as Itel, Ibex, and Sutherland just to name a few have made Jamaica their second home. These BPOs have invested millions of US dollars into the country with millions more promised over the next few years. Where else can you find an affordable labor force with English as their main language?
Apart from the language, we have access to first-world education. With universities like the University of the West Indies (UWI) pushing out graduates yearly, you can’t ask for a better combination. Young productive minds gearing to take on the workforce.
Currently, Jamaica has all the necessary qualities needed to become the next haven for investments and it would be foolish to let an opportunity like this pass. Getting to this level wasn’t easy and it took a lot of sacrifice from past generations. Let us honour their sacrifices by making Jamaica the ideal place it was always destined to become.
I am very proud to be a Jamaican, especially at this time when I can be a part of the expansive growth taking place and I look forward to seeing what the country accomplishes by 2030. I’m still sticking with my motto ‘buybackjamaica.’
