Kingston, Jamaica – The Jamaica Coalition of Service Industries (JCSI), in collaboration with JAMPRO, recently staged a Services Sector Strategy Consultation Workshop with key stakeholders in the health and wellness sector, as part of the on-going effort to identify critical issues for action and support that will ultimately enhance the growth of the sector over the next three years.
Among the key areas highlighted during the discussions held at JAMPRO’s head office on July 4 were training and human development, investment incentives, market intelligence and access, equity financing and the improvement of quality standards to expand opportunities in worldwide markets. The workshop established the initial framework for devising strategies in these areas, in addition to creating an enabling environment for businesses in the services sector to flourish.
The workshop underscored the importance of placing greater focus on the existing and potential contribution of services to national development and export earnings. It also outlined the benefits that the country could derive from diversifying and expanding the export sector to include services such as off-shore education, health and wellness and creative industries. Services contributed 80 per cent to national GDP in 2011, and international services trade is expected to reach 50 per cent of total trade by 2020.
In October 2011, JAMPRO received funding in the amount of US$245,000 from the Department for International Development (DFID) CARTFund, which is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank, to support the expansion of the services sector through the operationalisation of the JCSI.
The JCSI has been established as an umbrella organisation for the development of the service industries in Jamaica, and the Secretariat is currently working with JAMPRO and key public and private sector stakeholders to prepare a three-year Services Sector Strategy and Expansion Plan focusing on five priority service sectors for support and development.
The workshop on July 4 was the first in a series of consultation workshops to be hosted to discuss issues within the services industry. The consultation process is expected to continue until the Services Sector Strategy and Expansion Plan is finalised in October 2012.
