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Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), through its Technology Innovation District (TID) Accelerator Project, collaborated with globally renowned tech giant, Microsoft, to expose TID participants to growth opportunities under Microsoft’s signature Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI) Innovation Roundtable Forum.

The forum recently held at JAMPRO’s Head Office in Kingston provided the 16 firms with a chance to gain insights from officials and Microsoft executives, explore collaboration opportunities and connect with industry leaders.

The BPGI Innovation Forum aligns with the project’s objective to create an ecosystem that can support the development of scalable companies to offer exportable digital services and build a portfolio of global tech-enabled service providers and exporters that supply the Global Digital Services (GDS) Sector.

In her remarks, Shullette Cox, President of JAMPRO lauded the initiative as a “good fit for JAMPRO’s strategic objectives to grow Jamaican exports.”

“We want Jamaica to be digitally transformed and make an impact in international circles. We want people to understand the quality of the technology services that Jamaicans can provide,” she stated.

She reaffirmed the importance of equipping local stakeholders with the right tools, strategies, and resources to maximize their full potential within the programme.

Additionally, President Cox stated that the TID project has expanded its focus into the Knowledge Processing industry, “because we see that as the next natural area the country has to grow.”

JAMPRO’s TID project was established in 2023 under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Global Services Sector Project (GSSP) with the aim of – further promoting Jamaica as a destination of choice for tech/digital services in the Caribbean.

Microsoft also piloted its Project Blue Mountain, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating Jamaica’s digital transformation to become the premier hub for talent development in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) within the Caribbean Region.

Under the Project, Microsoft will target secondary and tertiary institutions and provide technology training for adults.

This is in alignment with the Government’s all-rounded intervention to strengthen Jamaica’s digital landscape and bridge the digital divide across the island.

Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. The Hon. Dana Dixon said work has begun and each Government Ministry is moving to modernize its technological infrastructure. Senator Dixon said this creates opportunities for local tech companies.

“See what all the Government entities are doing so that you can also have an idea of how you are going to position yourself, to provide more services. We want you to also be ready for the big contracts that are in Jamaica. Every Ministry has a digital plan, and everyone is putting together strategies, programmes and initiatives,” she said.

Microsoft’s Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI) supports the growth and development of black-owned partner businesses. With this vision, the organization aims to increase representation in the technology industry and foster community and collaboration between stakeholders.

JAMPRO, under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) remains committed to being a world-class business enabler and promotions agency which bolsters Jamaica as the premier destination to do business across all sectors.