Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says Jamaica must shift from being solely a net exporter of talent to also becoming a receiver of skilled workers if the economy is to grow and expand.
Dr Holness says countries are not only competing for investments and businesses, but also for talent.
“Increasingly therefore, countries are competing for people. I want that point to seep in not just to the audience in front of me, but to the wider Jamaica. where there is another conversation taking place.”
The Prime Minister, who was the Keynote Speaker at the Riu Hotel & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala, on Thursday in Montego Bay, said skilled workers are seeking out destinations that meet their needs.
“A Tourist chooses where to spend a vacation. An investor chooses where to place capital. A business chooses where to establish operations. A skilled worker chooses where to build a career. A family chooses where to build a future. In each case, the decision is influenced by remarkably similar considerations. Is the place safe? Is it welcoming? Is it well governed?”