Ross Sheil, Staff ReporterJamaica needs to do more to promote Kingston as a business centre to take advantage of opportunities in the burgeoning information technology industry, believes Patrick Casserly of E-Services Group International.
Mr. Casserly, the chief executive officer of that company, was speaking at a panel discussion on the industry held at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday. Also speaking was Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology Phillip Paulwell, who was bullish about growth prospects for local sector. But Mr. Casserly cautioned that foreign investors are still being put off by the negative image of Kingston.
"We have got to start marketing Kingston as a destination for business. We have got to find a way to change the perception," said Mr. Casserly.
no convincing local investors
"I haven't been able to convince local investors that it's a viable industry, yet the Montego Bay Freezone makes a profit!" he protested. More companies he argued needed to invest in order to add credibility to Kingston.
All this said Mr. Casserly was, however, against a background of healthy investor interest, that saw him in one week recently making almost daily flights across the United States to meet with new clients. What is more he added, Jamaica is now considered 'near shore' rather than 'offshore' by the United States, thanks to language and a common culture, more so than Puerto Rico and Mexico, who are competitors in the outsourcing market.
But despite this he said he was still having to place clients for his call centre business in Montego Bay instead.
E-Services Group now makes over $1
billion per year and employs over 200 persons, said Casserly.
He cited one company which flies their employees to Montego Bay from Kingston on weekends, such are the fears that their employer has of
the city.
