BPIAJ secures Caribbean funding from IDB

THE BUSINESS Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) is among four clusters in the Caribbean region selected for funding by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) after a successful pitch to an independent investment panel in Barbados last month.

This is the second time the association has been able to secure financing under the programme after approval from the judges in 2015, which led to the development of a 200-seat BPO incubator, implementation of a pilot bilingual training programme, introduction to international outsourcing service provider standards, and initiatives geared towards increasing awareness of industry.

Each project was evaluated on the group’s potential impact on the generation of revenue and foreign exchange, as well as the creation of jobs, including employment for women and marginalised groups.

The Gloria Henry-led BPIAJ’s project, entitled ‘Digitisation of Jamaica’s Outsourcing Industry: Enhancing Business Models and Advancing up the Vertical Value Chain’, will seek to focus on promoting industry data and intelligence, increase employability of Jamaica youth to access jobs in outsourcing, advance investments and job creation along the upper verticals of the outsourcing value chain, and foster

capacity building and best practice exchange amongst the clusters.

The actual deliverables of the project includes the development of a digital and innovation cosharing hub in Kingston; comprehensive industry research and published report; industry application (app) – an information resource on the industry; #ExploreBPO school and community tour campaign to increase industry awareness; quarterly webinars with international speakers highlighting industry best practices; executive development and mentoring programme for women in the industry; positioning Jamaica to attract higher-value investments and employment opportunities; and enhanced training to support the growth trajectory.