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... Maybe the key to unlocking this ICT puzzle lies in reforming secondary school education.... but where's the national model??? ... where's the execution plan???
We can't wait on the Ministry of Education or backward politicians & bureaucrats...
Stand by Jamaica.... Help is on the way!!...
ICT must play major role in Logistics Hub — English
BY ANIKA RICHARDS Observer staff reporter richardsai@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, January 27, 2014
ENGLISH ... it can have a huge impact on the economy.
OUTGOING president and Chief Operating Officer of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions, Michele English, believes that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be one of the most important components in the establishment of Jamaica's Logistics Hub.
If it executed properly, she said, it will have a huge impact on the island's economy.
Speaking to the Jamaica Observer in an interview at her New Kingston office last Friday, English said that the telecommunications outfit that she heads is uniquely positioned to support the ICT thrust.
"The concept and the project, if executed properly, can have a huge impact on the economy in terms of creating business opportunities and creating jobs," said English. "Because what you'll see is international companies coming in, bringing in opportunities, but that will also lead to the development of businesses locally as well, to support the initiative that is the (logistics) hub."
English pointed out that in looking at some of the other places around the world which have been successful in establishing logistics hubs, for example Singapore, one of the key strategies has been the development of their ICT infrastructure.
"It's having the right fibre infrastructure, the right kind of products and services, the right software -- all of those kinds of things have to come together to support the growth," English stated, adding that from the perspective of a global supply chain, which requires companies to be interacting and sharing information almost instantaneously in order for it to be successful, "a very robust network" is necessary to facilitate that kind of information sharing and the growth of that business.
According to English, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited is "uniquely positioned... because we are the only company here in the country that provides that end-to-end solution.
"Other companies do bits and pieces ... some people do the infrastructure piece, the equipment, the software," English said. "What we have managed to be able to do over the last 10 years in the region is develop both the fibre optic network that is critical for on island, but more importantly is connecting to the rest of the world.
"We are the only subsea (fibre optic network) that goes both to South America and North America directly and ... we connect to the rest of the world through our network," the telecommunications boss said.
English also said that through its cloud-based technology, small and medium-sized businesses can also get in the game because Columbus has developed the solution that will also facilitate their growth through reduced costs.
"We have invested in infrastructure that allows small businesses and medium-sized businesses to get into business and not have to put in the huge amounts of capital that will be required to buy computer systems and software," English said.
"And not just that, but even having the expertise, the knowledge, the IT (Information Technology) knowledge to be able to support that on an ongoing basis is tough for a small or medium-sized business, and we are facilitating that piece of it as well."
Jamaica's proposed Logistics Hub has tremendous implications for the island's ports and terminals and seeks to take advantage of the widening of the Panama Canal, which is slated for an April 2015 completion, and Jamaica's location at the crossroads of major international shipping lanes. Jamaica could become the fourth node in the global logistics network which also includes Singapore, Dubai and Rotterdam.
"It's really end-to-end — it's providing the connectivity, but also all the solutions, (such as) security systems, voice systems ... (and) infrastructure," said English. "So, all of those kinds of things will make a significant difference to the ability of our companies to be able to compete in a global marketplace, particularly as we try to establish this logistics hub," English said.
We can't wait on the Ministry of Education or backward politicians & bureaucrats...
Stand by Jamaica.... Help is on the way!!...
ICT must play major role in Logistics Hub — English
BY ANIKA RICHARDS Observer staff reporter richardsai@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, January 27, 2014
ENGLISH ... it can have a huge impact on the economy.
OUTGOING president and Chief Operating Officer of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions, Michele English, believes that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be one of the most important components in the establishment of Jamaica's Logistics Hub.
If it executed properly, she said, it will have a huge impact on the island's economy.
Speaking to the Jamaica Observer in an interview at her New Kingston office last Friday, English said that the telecommunications outfit that she heads is uniquely positioned to support the ICT thrust.
"The concept and the project, if executed properly, can have a huge impact on the economy in terms of creating business opportunities and creating jobs," said English. "Because what you'll see is international companies coming in, bringing in opportunities, but that will also lead to the development of businesses locally as well, to support the initiative that is the (logistics) hub."
English pointed out that in looking at some of the other places around the world which have been successful in establishing logistics hubs, for example Singapore, one of the key strategies has been the development of their ICT infrastructure.
"It's having the right fibre infrastructure, the right kind of products and services, the right software -- all of those kinds of things have to come together to support the growth," English stated, adding that from the perspective of a global supply chain, which requires companies to be interacting and sharing information almost instantaneously in order for it to be successful, "a very robust network" is necessary to facilitate that kind of information sharing and the growth of that business.
According to English, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited is "uniquely positioned... because we are the only company here in the country that provides that end-to-end solution.
"Other companies do bits and pieces ... some people do the infrastructure piece, the equipment, the software," English said. "What we have managed to be able to do over the last 10 years in the region is develop both the fibre optic network that is critical for on island, but more importantly is connecting to the rest of the world.
"We are the only subsea (fibre optic network) that goes both to South America and North America directly and ... we connect to the rest of the world through our network," the telecommunications boss said.
English also said that through its cloud-based technology, small and medium-sized businesses can also get in the game because Columbus has developed the solution that will also facilitate their growth through reduced costs.
"We have invested in infrastructure that allows small businesses and medium-sized businesses to get into business and not have to put in the huge amounts of capital that will be required to buy computer systems and software," English said.
"And not just that, but even having the expertise, the knowledge, the IT (Information Technology) knowledge to be able to support that on an ongoing basis is tough for a small or medium-sized business, and we are facilitating that piece of it as well."
Jamaica's proposed Logistics Hub has tremendous implications for the island's ports and terminals and seeks to take advantage of the widening of the Panama Canal, which is slated for an April 2015 completion, and Jamaica's location at the crossroads of major international shipping lanes. Jamaica could become the fourth node in the global logistics network which also includes Singapore, Dubai and Rotterdam.
"It's really end-to-end — it's providing the connectivity, but also all the solutions, (such as) security systems, voice systems ... (and) infrastructure," said English. "So, all of those kinds of things will make a significant difference to the ability of our companies to be able to compete in a global marketplace, particularly as we try to establish this logistics hub," English said.
