Jamaica Reaches Out To Global Investors

Online, February 8, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Jamaica's growing reputation as a top Caribbean investment destination is set to take centre stage on March 1-2, 2012 in the resort city of Montego Bay, as the island lays out the red carpet for investors seeking opportunities in the region's largest English-speaking economy.

The Jamaica Investment Forum 2012 will be staged at the new Montego Bay Convention Centre, and will present a menu of significant investment projects in the context of Jamaica's enabling business environment and its key growth sectors.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, will head a high profile slate of local and international speakers at the Forum, which is being organized by JAMPRO, the country's investment promotion agency, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Compete Caribbean Programme.

The Forum will focus on the business opportunities that exist in the priority areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Tourism, Manufacturing and in major privatization and development projects.

Investors stand to benefit from insightful information pertaining to the Government of Jamaica's investment policies and incentive regimes; and networking opportunities among existing investors and leaders in the local business community.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller will also host a welcome reception at which participants will be able to meet members of the Jamaican Government and senior leaders in the private and public sectors.

The opening of the Jamaica Investment Forum will feature presentations from Anthony Hylton, the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and a high-level representative from the IDB. Other keynote speakers for the two-day event include Phillip Vandervoort, Head of Business and Marketing Operations at Microsoft; Barry Griswell of the Principal Financial Group; Steven J. Puig, VP for the Private Sector and Non-Sovereign Guaranteed Operations, IDB; Ancile Brewster, IDB Country Manager, Arthur Lok Jack, Chairman, Associated Brands Investments Ltd.; Josef Forstmayr, Round Hill Hotel; Helena Lawson Brooks, SVP of Specialty Operations, Convergys; Ambassador Patrick Casserly, Special Envoy for ICT; and Dr. Harsh Muthal, CEO, Tholons Inc.

The sectoral sessions on tourism, manufacturing and ICT will feature a mix of information and testimonials from expert panellists and existing investors. The tourism session will showcase several new, exciting value-added investment opportunities in health and wellness tourism, and also present the country's policy on timeshare. ICT will focus on Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT Export Services (ITES); while the session on manufacturing will highlight the many advantages of establishing niche manufacturing operations in Jamaica.

The roundtable discussions on major projects will engage participants on the key divestment projects and will also present major investment projects in the areas of transportation and logistics, industrial parks, as well as urban re-development and real estate projects. Investors will also have the opportunity to see first-hand some of the select investment projects on specially arranged JAMPRO site visits and private meetings.
A special "Jamaica Night" reception will cap off a comprehensive social programme that will offer participants, diverse opportunities for leisure, tours and sightseeing.

About JAMPRO

Jamaica is the place to do business on a global scale, and JAMPRO - the national investment and export promotion agency - is the gateway that connects the world to Jamaica. Operating under the direction of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), JAMPRO promotes investments in a number of targeted sectors, such as Tourism, Information Communications Technology (ICT), Manufacturing, and the Creative Industries (film, music and entertainment). JAMPRO guides investors through the necessary processes to ensure expedient and successful start-up. The agency also offers development support services after an investment project becomes operational. The agency's cadre of knowledgeable and professional business facilitators stands at the ready to assist all potential investors seeking to do business with Jamaica.