MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO in the Prime Minister’s Office, Floyd Green, says an international funding model is essential to improving the Caribbean region’s competitiveness in today’s increasingly digital global economy.

Green made the call at the 37th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Miami, Florida, themed “Enabling Digital Evolution.” He said the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Operators (CANTO) needs to develop overarching strategies on how the region can be at the forefront of information and communications technology (ICT), instead of have a constant need to catch up with the rest of the world.

“As Small Island Developing States (SIDS), we need an international financing model to contribute to the sustainable development of technological advances. We need organizations to focus on areas that require new science and technology innovation to move the industry forward; areas with low required rates of return, but high social impacts,” Green said in his keynote address on day two of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Operators conference.

According to Green, this means targeting areas such as agriculture and fisheries to incorporate technological advances and support ICT education.

“We need to focus on our education system, pay more attention to math and science across the region, and achieve best practices in teaching these subjects as the foundation for developing a society that not only consumes, but creates technology.”

He indicated that as part of the vision of “thinking digital”, Jamaica is actively developing its human resource capacity in the area of ​​ICT.

“In collaboration with the private sector and international partners, we recently launched a coding academy and started the process of integrating coding into the public school system. We must pay particular attention to the STEM programs of our schools which provide the necessary support for the next generation of designers, coders and software developers,” he continued.

In a call to the region, Green said the best way for SIDS to take advantage of the US$4.8 billion global enterprise software and services market is to use technology to become more efficient in all service areas, more inclusive with access and be strategic. targeting areas that are in demand.

“Small Island Developing States must develop a digital and knowledge-based society that sees our people well educated and uses their knowledge to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and improve quality of life,” he said. .

In his call to action to government ministers at the conference, Green stressed that if the region is to be globally competitive in the digital world, countries like Jamaica must put in place purpose-built technology infrastructure. such as the National Identification System (NIDS) and the central bank. digital currency, Jam-Dex.

“Both are investments in safety, financial security and inclusion, improving the speed and ease of transactions, and reducing the cost of doing business. This is a way forward for all of our Caribbean neighbors to create sustained and strategic investments that will lead to a digital society,” he said as he concluded his presentation.

The conference, held live for the first time in two years, is the annual initiative of the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications trade organization, CANTO, which hosted more than 300 guests at the Fountainebleau Miami Beach Hotel from 17 to July 20.