(Jamaica Information Service) Jamaica could soon benefit from significant new investment in a number of sectors, coming out of the just concluded Jamaica Investment Forum.
A number of the investors, who attended the event held from March 1 to 2 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, said they were impressed by the suite of projects presented and are ready to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.
Consultant, Peter Mitchell, who brought in several investors from Russia, said they are interested in erecting a plant to convert sweet sorghum, which is similar to sugarcane, into ethanol. There is international effort to improve sorghum farming and to find additional applications, including its use as poultry feed, secondarily as cattle feed, and in brewing applications.
“We have been able to get ministers sitting together with us and talking,” Mitchell said, adding that “soon we will have something going with the investors putting up the money.”
“Everybody is enthusiastic so far. As far as I am concerned, it was well worth coming over,” he said.
President and Chief Marketing Officer of Aegis Communication, a large business process outsourcing company, Sandip Sen, said his company is examining the possibility of using Jamaica as a near shore destination for call centres and businesses for United States (US) clients.
“I heard the Minister say the right things. I think JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation) has been very active, so I am very encouraged by what I heard. It was a very good start,” he pointed out.
A global consultant based in the Cayman Islands, Martin Bold, was similarly impressed with the networking opportunities and the evident commitment on the part of the Government.
“It was excellent,” he said. “The speakers were good…it was focused…I am particularly impressed with the Jamaican government’s commitment and particularly the Prime Minister’s commitment,” he stated.
“It is unusual to see ministers of government spend so much time at a conference like this. They normally appear, say a few words and then disappear, and so it speaks a lot to the commitment of the Government of Jamaica. The network has been excellent,” he stated.
Bold was making reference to the breakout sessions hosted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Peter Phillips; Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell; Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill; Agriculture and Fisheries, Roger Clarke; and Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson.
