Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Honourable Sharie De Castro has returned to the Virgin Islands following her attendance at the Outsource to the Caribbean Conference (OCC) 2019 in Curaçao from May 7 through 10.

Honourable De Castro met with Head of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the Caribbean, Ms. Shelly-Ann Mohammed. Their discussions surrounded potential opportunities for developing the outsourcing sector in the Virgin Islands as a means for addressing the issue of Economic Substance.

Honourable De Castro said, “The Caribbean market has recently become a target of choice by major companies that wish to outsource essential business processes for various reasons including costs, incentives, and governance, among others.”

The Junior Minister added, “I am encouraged so far by the information covered,  which helps in understanding the importance of building capacity locally to be able to facilitate the development and growth of this new sector. It is essential in the promotion of investment into the new sector to ensure diversification of the economy.”

The conference brought together leaders in the industry who shared their expertise as well as established relationships in the outsourcing sector.

During the Conference Honourable De Castro also met with the Minister of Public Telecommunications for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Honourable Catherine Hughes. The two leaders had a one-on-one discussion on the role of young persons in leadership and the need for Caribbean leaders to work together in promoting the Caribbean as one.

The conference included a number of training sessions that focused on understanding the basics of outsourcing and how to develop and sustain a sound strategy for the Development of the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) sector in the Virgin Islands.

The Outsource to the Caribbean Conference 2019 (OCC 2019) is a pan-Caribbean outsourcing event for industry players in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The Conference brings together over 300 industry leaders from the public and private sector in the Caribbean as well as investors looking for outsourcing service opportunities and for individuals considering investing in the Caribbean’s BPO sector.

Note to the Editor:

1. Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Honourable Sharie De Castro is pictured at the Outsource to the Caribbean Conference 2019 (OCC 2019). (Photo Credit: Provided)
2. Honourable Sharie De Castro is pictured speaking with Head of the Caribbean of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Ms. Shelly-Ann Mohammed. (Photo Credit: Provided)
3. Honourable Sharie De Castro is pictured speaking with Minister of Public Telecommunications for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Honourable Catherine Hughes. (Photo Credit: Provided)
4. Group photo of Honourable Sharie De Castro, Honourable Catherine Hughes, Ms. Shelly-Ann Mohammed and Ms. Lizette George. (Photo Credit: Provided)