Earnings generated by Jamaica’s global services sector (GSS) are estimated to have more than doubled over the last six years.

It moved from USD400 million in 2016 to USD900 million last year.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill said employment within the sector jumped from 17,000 direct employees operating in 30 companies in 2015 to approximately 52,000 individuals attached to 95 domestic and international firms in 2021.

Senator Hill, who said Jamaica is recording extraordinary GSS growth, indicated that outsourcing companies occupy more than 2.2 million square feet of space, including 200,000 square feet of new construction completed in 2021.

According to the Minister, in addition to the recently opened Portmore Informatics Park which was developed by the Port Authority of Jamaica in St. Catherine, another BPO firm, I-TEL, is slated to open its newest location in Kingston later this month, offering 90,000 square feet of space.

I-TEL is expected to contribute a projected USD 60 million to Jamaica’s economy.

He maintains that Jamaica’s attractiveness as an investment destination, consequent on the country’s near-shore location, robust telecommunications infrastructure, competitive labour costs, as well as cultural and language connection with other countries in North America is already established.

He said the expectation is that with Jamaica’s current strong economic performance, even more investors will be drawn to the island.

Senator Hill was speaking during the Global Services Association of Jamaica Outsource-2-Jamaica Glance 2022 Forum at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, yesterday (May 17).