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After several changes to its initial plans dating back at least six years, the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, FCJ, is holding comment on a final date for construction of a new technology park in Naggo Head, St Catherine, so as not to pre-empt the Cabinet.
The project was initially to be a primarily business process outsourcing facility, but the plans have since evolved into a complex that would amenities for education, health, manufacturing, as well as a BPO space.
At last report, the FCJ said on its website that it was in negotiations with its financial partners after Cabinet approved yet another redesign of the project as a mixed-use development.
Six years ago, the cost of the development was reported to be US$75 million, or nearly $10 billion in Jamaican currency. No updated figure has been reported.
Factories Corporation of Jamaica Chairman Lyttleton Shirley, in a recent interview with the Financial Gleaner, used the term ‘smart city’ to describe the project.
The FCJ said that at least two local universities as well as HEART/NSTA Trust are to occupy space in the new facility.
“Naggo Head is a game changer. Naggo Head is all about creating a smart city. It’s really to create an environment that allows young people to be able to advance their education while being employed in the same campus, thus minimising the cost of moving to and from different locations,” said Shirley.
“It’s a similar concept to the Morant Bay Urban Centre, where we will have government and private-sector entities fused into one campus. In this regard, you are using the campus for educational advancement, job opportunities such as BPOs, commercial activities, and we’re putting up a medical block there, so that the vast population of Portmore can have proper first responders in the various health disciplines as they choose. We feel it will transform Portmore into an environment that will minimise costs and fatigue, and enhance the development of young people,” he said.
The promise of a new tech space at Naggo Head dates back to 2017 at least, when FCJ announced the completion of infrastructure works at the development site. In 2018, Cabinet gave approval for a joint-venture agreement between the FCJ and China Harbour Engineering Company for the development of the facility on 34 acres of land in Portmore. The construction was expected to last two years.
In 2019, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that FCJ had earmarked $1.78 billion for the project, which would have more than 800,000 square feet of space for rent.
At one stage, during the coronavirus pandemic, it was decided that the rollout of the Naggo Head project would be postponed until the FCJ completed another big development, the Morant Bay Urban Centre, in St Thomas. Last month, the latter project was said to be near completion.
However, Shirley gave no updated timeline for the start of the Naggo Head development, saying it was subject to Cabinet approval.
An agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, FCJ provides real estate solutions for a variety of industries, such as manufacturing, agro-processing, warehousing and distribution, and the outsourcing sector.
FCJ is one of the largest providers of real estate in Jamaica with over 100 facilities islandwide strategically situated, whether near the island’s ports or commercial districts. The agency manages over 1.6 million square feet of industrial space for small, medium and large enterprises, facilitating employment for approximately 5,868 individuals in a wide cross-section of industries.
Shirley said “massive improvement” was expected at its Garmex factory at Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, while new space for clients would be built.
The Garmex facility currently houses businesses engaged in manufacturing, distribution, retail and other sectors.
According to the FCJ website, the Naggo Head project entails the development of 34 acres of land on a phased basis, which will include the construction of 100,000 square feet of space initially for usage by the outsourcing sector, followed by the construction of another 650,000 square feet, forming a part of the total development of 750,000 square feet of space.
Dr Winston Adams, executive president of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, confirmed that the institution was interested in the proposed facility.
“UCC and RE/MAX Elite Realty have been approved to establish a UCC Portmore campus RE/MAX Portmore office there,” Adams said.
Otherwise, FCJ said in August 2024 that up to then it had received expressions of interest for 25 per cent of the rentable space.
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