Overview

Many of Jamaica’s IT services are located in the Montego Bay Free Zone as well as Kingston Free Zone.  Both areas are in close distance to shipping and airport facilities.  All free zones establishments offer the following incentives:

·          100 percent tax holiday on profits in perpetuity

·          Suspension of import licensing fees

·          Exemption from custom duties on goods imported for use in the zone

 Jamaica’s  DigiPort International, owned by Cable & Wireless, is located in the Montego Bay Free Zone.  JDI provides cost effective telecommunication solution to Information Technology companies operating in the zone.  JDI’s telecommunication infrastructure supports a range of services including International Long Distance, International Toll Free, International Private Line Circuits, Internet, and Automatic Call Distribution.

Many of the companies in the free zone include software distributors and dealers; Internet service providers; companies offering computer training; and export service providers of data processing and conversion, teleservices, geographic informatics services and software services.

The island of Jamaica does not have Cybercities or  IT clustuers they have what are called free zones.  The free zones are where the major IT activity is carried out.  In these areas are cybercafes, the free zones, kiosk where access to computers are located and various computer or IT related companies.  On a final note the Free Zones are spread out from one part of the island to another.  Depending on weather and traffic you can drive from point A to Point B in seven to nine hours.

IT services available at Free Zones

§      Information processing

§      Inbound/Outbound Telemarketing

§      Data conversion and Imaging

§      Multimedia/multilingual services

§      GIS/CAD Digitizing

§      Data warehousing

§      Software development and products

§      Customized software applications

§      Website Management  & Internet Development  (24)

Kingston Free Zone

Kingston Free Zone that was established in 1976, twenty-five years ago is situated on a 44-acre site, next to the Kinston Container Terminal.  It now boasts 784,000-sq. ft. of factory space.  It offers investment opportunities to companies from all over the world and is in the process of expansion with the development of an information technology park and a commercial free zone.  KFZ, the largest export free zone in the English speaking Caribbean, is an industrial estate where investment in manufacturing and warehousing and distribution activities are encouraged and incentives offered, in a context of competitive rental rates and excellent infrastructure.

The following features are offered at this location:

§      Easy access to air, sea and telecommunications services

§      No tax on profits

§      Duty exemption on imports and exports

§      Minimal customs procedures

§      Wide market access through international trade agreements

§      Adaptable, productive, English speaking workforce  (23)

Montego Bay Free Zone

Montego Bay Free Zone was established in 1985 and is situated on a 95-acre site to the southwest of the city of Montego Bay.  It now boasts 488,110-sq. ft. of factory and office space, offering investment opportunities in manufacturing an in Information Technology.  The MBFZ is currently in a mode of expansion with 103,000 sq. ft of space being constructed for Information Technology activities.  MBFZ is the ideal Duty Free Industrial/ Information Technology Park, strategically located and highly productive.

It offers the following:

§      Wide market access through C.B.I and international trade agreements

§      Highly trainable, adaptable, productive, English speaking work force

§      Competitive wage rates

§      Tax free profits

§      Duty exemption  (23)

Cazoumar Free Zone

Cazoumar Free Zone is located on five acres of prime oceanfront property in the tropical paradise of Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Conveniently located just two miles outside of town, this is the first privately owned and operated Free Zone in the English speaking Caribbean.  Cazoumar is proud of its first class amenities and facilities that stimulate a positive, efficient, and productive work environment.

Our facility encompasses over 65,000 SF of fully air-conditioned office and information technology space completely outfitted with ceramic tile or carpet flooring, acoustical ceiling tiles, adequate lighting, telecommunications conduits, background music or intercom system available for immediate start-up.  With Rental of US $10/SF and telecommunication rates as low as 7 cents per minute you cant afford to pass on it.  (22)

Portmore Informatics Park

Portmore Informatics Park is in St. Catherine, on the South-East coast of Jamaica, is just minutes away from the country’s capital and industrial center, Kinston.  Portmore which is the countries fastest growing township, with a young, well educated and computer literate, English-speaking population.  The park, now under construction on a 13.5 acre site, will provide timely, cost-effective and top quality facilities to meet the exacting standards of major international networks.  Jamaica’s strategic geographic location and its dramatic growth in the informatics processing industry, make the Portmore Infromatics Park the ideal site for investors seeking major international markets. (21) 

The communications infrastructure in this new Free Zone will feature a state of the art satellite earth station, with support technology to facilitate satellite links and digital switching to carrier networks in North America and Europe.  Designed to meet the highest performance standards, the advanced communication system at the Portmore Informatics Park will provide real time high speed and bandwidth transmission, at internationally competitive rates.  (21)