Kingston,Jamaica- Bruce Golding, Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party is now Prime Minister of Jamaica. By end of this week, he will annouce the Members of the Cabinet who will govern the nation. Within that Cabinet is the new Minister of Industry, Technology and Commerce.
Regardless of who is named, we’re now asking what should be the government’s priorities regarding the Tech and Telecom Industries. Share your thoughts through our poll. Encourage others too.
We need Start-up Incubators more than we need Venture Capitalists. VCs are focused purely on exit strategies, not helping to build sustainable businesses that contribute positively to economic development.
Having actually dealt with a VC (no I did not get funding), I think the Minister of Technology needs to focus on partnerships with outside companies - especially alternative energy companies (ethanol from sugar, solar power cell development, etc.).
A local technology competition sponsored by local arms of Microsoft or IBM would be a great way to encourage innovation and result in real products that could go to market through these partners.
Create a major local market for alternative energy products - reduce duties on hybrid vehicles, ethanol vehicles, solar products for homes and so forth. Encourage entrepreneurs to start selling more.
I would also love to see partnerships with companies like Intel (if they can be in Costa Rica, they can be in the Caribbean) - get them to build a facility and subsidize the training or provide tax credits in exchange for them paying for the training.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:24 am
ITC has to be made a priority. More opportunities for education and technology development offered. Either via incentives to the business community, scholarship programs, etc. Stimulation has to be offer to SMB’s to utilize technological solution to enhance competitiveness and efficiencies. We need to leave the hustler mentality behind and operate real business. There should also be incentives/support for Technology startups along with the encouragement of international companies participation to stimulate competition, the transfer of skills, and standards to the local community. While I don’t see the onus of this to be totally upon the Minister of Technology. It must be their mandate to encourage, support, and stimulate ITC development.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:37 pm