Paulwell GOVERNMENT HAS already identified the first 8,000 of the 40,000 information technology jobs it has promised during the next three years, Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology, said on Thursday.
To-date, three companies, including one which is locally based, have committed themselves to providing 15,000 jobs over the next three years and the Government is meeting them halfway by extending millions-of-dollars in loan guarantees.
According to Mr. Paulwell, a Memorandum of Understanding will shortly be signed with Trinidad-based Netserv, for the provision of 10,000 jobs, beginning with the first 600 by the end of September.
The multinational provider of telecommunication services which has been described as a "pioneer in the Caribbean Call Centre industry", will enter into a lease agreement with the Government for the provision of 60,000 square feet of office space, and JAMPRO, the Government's economic development agency, is to assist the company in identifying another 140,000 square feet of office space, Mr Paulwell said.
Also, the Government has signed an MoU with Jamaica Call Centres Ltd., a subsidiary of English Sports, for the creation of 5,000 jobs over the next three years. The first 1,500 of these will be provided in the Kingston Free Zone by September. The company will lease 200,000 square feet of office space in the Free Zone and another 100,000 square feet in the Portmore Infomatics Park. And, local player, Baytel, has committed to provide just under 400 jobs.
Of note is that since April, just under 500 jobs have been created in the sector and, according to Mr. Paulwell, several companies already operating here are seeking to expand.
Among these are Citel, which operates out of the Montego Bay Free Zone, and is moving to lease 30,000 square feet of factory space as it positions itself to provide 900 jobs during the current fiscal year, and an additional 3,000 by 2003.
MoBay Communications with 8,000 square feet of office space will provide 200 jobs during 2000/2001 and a further 200 by 2003. Outsourcing Management Inc. which also operates out of the Montego Bay Free Zone, is pushing for an additional 30,000 square feet of office space as it moves to provide 500 jobs this year and another 1,000 by 2003.
"Perhaps when we understand the kind of demand which exists for information technology services we might begin to see that the creation of 40,000 jobs is eminently achievable," Mr. Paulwell said.
He said the global market for call centre consulting, systems integration and outsourcing was estimated at US$23 billion in 1998, with the market conservatively projected to reach $58 billion by 2003. He added that with the explosion in electronic (e) commerce and now mobile telephony there is increased demand for agents communicating with customers.
