Mon | Apr 20, 2026

Freezone breaks ground for new BPO

Published:Tuesday | August 30, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Ashley Anguin
From left: President of the Port Authority of Jamaica, Professor Gordon Shirley, Attorney General Marlene Malahoo and Investment Ambassador to India, Aubyn Hill in conversation.
Ashley Anguin
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) greets Sutherland Global's chief commercial officer K.S. Kumar at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Montego Bay Free Zone last Thursday.
Ashley Anguin
Kami Rangeloff, director of business transformation, National Credit Adjusters, presents a Carol Hamilton piece to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Ashley Anguin
From left: Country Director of Xerox, Leroy Reid, JAMPRO's Conrad Robinson and Flow's Andrew Fazio at Montego Bay Free Zone Company groundbreaking ceremony.
Ashley Anguin
Captain Sydney Innis of the Port Authority of Jamaica and Louis Aiken of Tankweld share a laugh.
Ashley Anguin
From left: Chairman of Montego Bay Free Zone, Mark Hart, Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte and Gloria Henry, assistant vice-president, Montego Bay Free Zone Company at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 63,000-square-foot building in the complex last Thursday (August 25).
Ashley Anguin
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (centre), gets assistance from from left: President of the Port Authority of Jamaica Professor Gordon Shirley, Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte, and Dr Horace Chang, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Mayor of Montego Bay, Glendon Harris.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

Prioritised in the Government's strategic Vision 2030 plan as one of the primary sectors that can generate economic growth, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector was the highlight of Prime Minister Andrew Holness' stay in Montego Bay last Thursday, August 25.

Holness, his economic growth strategy minister, Dr Horace Chang, attorney general, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who is also member of parliament for West Central St James, Mayor Glendon Harris, and Professor Gordon Shirley, donned white construction hats, held blue-ribbon shovels and broke ground for a new 63,000 square-foot building aimed specifically at realising the vision.

At a ceremony, attended by more than 100 persons, new life was breathed into the Montego Bay Free Zone, the area where Jamaica's BPO industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past five years.

More than 19 ICT/BPO companies now operate in the complex, employing more than 8,000 persons and assuming the position of being the second largest employer behind the tourism sector.

The prime minister had a lot to celebrate, as this latest venture equates to 2,000 new jobs in the Second City.

Outlook brings you highlights of the event, which also saw new chairman of the Montego Bay Free Zone in attendance Mark Hart; Dr Hu Zhimin of China Harbour, Dr Louis Aikin of TankWeld Limited, directors of the MBFZ board, Dale Delapenha, and Melissa Chang.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com