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HEART Signs with BPIAJ for Training

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JIS: The HEART Trust/NTA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) to provide skills training for Jamaicans who desire to work in the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

 

The signing took place in the boardroom of HEART Trust’s head office on Oxford Road in Kingston on Friday (February 2).

 

Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART, Mr. Edward Gabbidon, said he is pleased to be officially partnering with the BPIAJ, as this will provide hundreds of Jamaicans with training, skills development, qualifications and job opportunities in the BPO sector.

 

“HEART, the new entity, has a mandate to provide training that is industry-specific and training that will help us to grow our economy. Growth in our economy is dependent on our human capital, and one of the industries that offer that avenue of growth is the BPO sector,” Mr. Gabbidon said.

 

“One of the things that we expect to do from this is to create that base pyramid for entry into the BPO sector, and for training of persons to grow on the value chain to be anything they want to be in that sector,” he added.

 

Mr. Gabbidon pointed out that the training that will be provided from the MOU will not only focus on aspects of BPO but also for business in general.

 

Meanwhile, President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry, said her organisation is also pleased to be partnering with the HEART Trust/NTA.

 

“HEART has been part of this sector since inception. Even before the BPIAJ was formally inaugurated, HEART was providing training through a partnership with the Montego Bay Free Zone Company, and has been involved in the growth and development of many of the companies that have been here in Jamaica,” she said.

 

“The BPIAJ is very keen on this partnership, because it will help us to create the kind of talent pool that we want to have for new investors who are coming to Jamaica,” Ms. Henry said.

 

She pointed out that there has been growth of the industry, in terms of the number of firms that are now operating in Jamaica, from just under 40 to nearly 60 firms.

 

“Employment (in the BPO sector) has moved from about 13,000 to about 26,000, so that’s a doubling of employment. We have about a 75 per cent increase in export and 75 per cent increase in foreign exchange earnings. We are on a growth path right now, not just to improve the existing businesses that are here but to fill the almost two million square feet of space that is being developed in Jamaica,” she added.

 

Vice President of Sales and Promotions, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Claude Duncan, endorsed the MOU and the objective.

 

“This move by the BPIAJ and HEART puts us in a better competitive position. Numbers have been quoted as to where we see the sector going. We at JAMPRO are committed to driving those numbers. This move is demonstrative of the commitment of the Government to work with the private sector, and partner to provide solutions to achieve those numbers,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART Trust/NTA, Edward Gabbidon (right), addresses the ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HEART Trust/NTA and the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), to provide skills training for persons interested in becoming employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, at HEART’s head office in Kingston, on Friday (February 2). At left is President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry.