Vale Jamaicano: o novo centro tecnológico no Caribe

Jamaican Valley: the new technological center in the Caribbean

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This is, without a doubt, an impressive number. But why has there been such a sharp increase in the number of talented developers coming out of Jamdown? A combination of factors gives us the answer.

Jamaica's technological rise can be attributed to government initiatives, investments in education and local entrepreneurs who take advantage of global trends to transform the island into the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean. This can be seen in initiatives such as the Amber/HEART NSTA Coding Academy which aims to prepare thousands of young people to transform the country into a technology hub in the Caribbean.

Additionally, the government and local financial institutions support the sustainable and robust growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with non-refundable investment financing. Allocated US$1.1 billion for the Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Project – the initiative aimed to achieve sustainable and robust growth among startups and MSMEs.

However, more than just the local government is involved in the region's development. Some international organizations have also joined the fray. For example, the Inter-American Development Bank has helped foster innovation and growth in the Jamaican ecosystem. It offered funding for incubators, grants and loans for startups. The startup ecosystem has also received funding from the European Union's Caribbean Investment Fund (CIF). Funding is provided to promote gender equality, climate change and COVID-19 response to drive innovation and business productivity.

jamaica developers

All these efforts have resulted in the proliferation of startups, digital services and technological communities. Let's analyze each one.

The startup ecosystem in Jamaica now ranks first in the Caribbean and 92nd worldwide. Although this second number doesn't seem particularly impressive, consider that it jumped two places, surpassing Morocco, a country of 37 million inhabitants. Jamaica, for comparison, has just 2.8 million people, one-fifteenth of Morocco's total population. That has to count for something.

Some of the most prominent examples of Jamaican startups are:

  • One to One is an e-learning solutions provider trusted by governments, businesses and individuals to educate, upskill and train through learning management systems (LMS) and e-course offerings.
  • Âmbar connect is a global provider of telematics and vehicle safety solutions. It generates robust business intelligence for commercial sectors powered by Internet of Things (IoT) security.
  • Termo intelligent is a software solution for educational institutions with a unified student learning information and management system.

In relation to digital services, the country has invested approximately 900 million dollars in the ICT/BPO sector to improve its technological sector. During 2021, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry saw the expansion of existing BPO companies, new BPO brands, and the progression towards higher-level outsourcing services and initiatives to improve the labor pool. Technology parks, cost-competitive labor and a liberalized telecommunications sector now support the technology market. The Jamaican government has also committed to developing more than 1 million square feet of commercial space over the next five years.

As a result of all this, many technological communities have emerged on the island. The government established the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) to address the development of the sector. The organization's objective is, together with the government, to formulate policies and legislation for the business process outsourcing sector in order to make Jamaica the ideal location for outsourcing operations. Continuously engages all stakeholders through roundtables and forums to develop and implement strategies to improve the quality and standards of service delivery in the Global Services Sector in Jamaica.

Bridging the global tech talent gap

The global technology industry has faced a significant challenge: the demand for technology talent outstrips the available supply. One of the solutions to this dilemma is nearshore outsourcing – the practice of outsourcing business processes, especially software development, to geographically closer countries.

If you are interested in joining the fastest growing nearshoring company in Latin America, explore job opportunities here .

This is where Jamaica really shines. The country's proximity to North America, its English-speaking population and expanding technology ecosystem make it an attractive destination for nearshoring. Combine this with experienced programmers who work with some of the top 1% of technology talent in the world, and you have an area that is ready to deliver and become ingrained in your mind where some of the world's most prominent developers come from. in.

We wrote about why Latin America and the Caribbean is great for software outsourcing. From all the above-mentioned benefits of nearshoring, such as time zone alignment and good language skills to the cost-effectiveness, cultural similarities and excellent level of technological education, Jamaica is starting to play a more prominent role in the region, alongside of the giants of the subcontinent. such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

The future is bright

The story of Jamaica's technological wave is still in its early chapters. With continued investments in education, infrastructure and partnerships with global technology giants, the Jamaican Valley could be a priority for many technology leaders, just as another valley in California is today. Furthermore, as more companies discover the benefits of nearshoring to Jamaica, the country's reputation as a technology powerhouse will grow stronger.

In conclusion, Jamaica's transformation from a vacation paradise to a technological titan is a story of resilience, innovation and vision. The island nation is setting the stage and inviting the world to witness and be part of its incredible technological journey.

Source: BairesDev

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