Jamaica’s Digital Economy Booming Amidst COVID-19

Despite a global economic downturn due to COVID-19, rapid growth has been fueling in the digital economy, leading to a surge in e-commerce.

But not all will be able to harness digital technologies in this fast-changing environment.

Wi-Pay Jamaica launched project 1 thousand, an initiative that will give 1-thousand small business owners the opportunity to create websites for free to further enhance their earnings online.

The initiative courtesy of Wi-Pay Jamaica, seeks to foster financial inclusion in the digital realm to scale up economic recovery.

The project powered by wi-shops, a zero code platform will facilitate entrepreneurs to set up their websites free of cost without using a credit card. 

Consumers will be able to purchase goods or services from that website and the payments will be processed directly to the local bank account of the proprietor.

Registrants will be contacted with additional instructions of what is required to qualify.

Support will also be provided to recipients as to how to manage the back end of their e-commerce stores.

Meanwhile, the President of the Micro Small, and Medium-sized Enterprise, MSME alliance, Donovan Wignall, says it is essential for small businesses to get on board in the digital transformation by using e-commerce to collect their revenues.

He says for any business, small or big, online transactions present a significant advantage as they guarantee advance payments.

Wignall says the thrust towards electronic commerce, is a major pillar in the business space.