Jamaica Can Be Major Player In Animation Industry – Paulwell

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says, Jamaica has the potential to be a major player in the multibillion dollar global animation industry,Garfield L. Angus reports for Jamaica’s Information Service.

He noted that the country has an educated, talented youth population, with an affinity for technology, “and “our cultural diversity and creativity have aroused the interest of the world.”

“This is a multibillion dollar industry with significant growth potential, and Jamaica needs to be a part of it in a big way. The opportunity is in “our hands…we have what it takes,” he said.

Minister Paulwell was delivering the keynote address at the media launch of KingstOOn 2016 on January 28 at JAMPRO’s head office in St. Andrew.

The two-day animation conference and film festival is slated for March 12 and 13 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston under the theme: ‘Learn Earn and Display’.

It involves partnership with the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The event is the second to be held in Jamaica, following the inaugural staging in 2013. At the time, the industry was estimated to worth some US$222.8 billion.

Minister Paulwell said the festivals form part of measures by the Government to  present another practical option for employment, and for transforming creative ideas into lucrative business ventures.

“It represents every bit of what our Government envisions for our youth for entrepreneurship and for employment,” he said.

“The industry holds a plethora of opportunities, not just for our country, but for the Caribbean, and we are putting our young people in the position through which they can actualise and generate employment,” he noted further.

KingstOOn 2016 will provide an avenue for Jamaica’s growing number of animators to showcase their talent, while honing their skills through workshops, competitions and interactions with established animators from the island and overseas.

It will also connect participants with employment and business development opportunities.

The deadline for registration for the various competitions is February 7. For further details on the event, persons can visit the website: www.kingstoonfest.com.