Kingston, Jamaica — 1st October 2025: In partnership with the CTU, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect (P2C) Matchmaking Accelerator was convened during CTU ICT Week 2025 in Kingston, Jamaica, to catalyse multistakeholder collaboration and accelerate digital inclusion in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
The Accelerator brought together approximately 40 participants from 20 organisations, including government officials, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, entrepreneurs and development partners to align digital pledges with Jamaica’s national transformation priorities and the Caribbean’s regional digital agenda. Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications & Transport, underscored Jamaica’s momentum in advancing digital transformation and inclusive growth.
Through interactive sessions and knowledge sharing, participants worked to identify projects and opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that efforts to expand connectivity are inclusive, data-driven and responsive to local needs.
“P2C’s matching platform offers visibility and relevance. We look forward to translating today’s pledges into impactful projects across the Caribbean,” said Cleveland Thomas, ITU Area Representative for Caribbean countries.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Jamaica Connectivity Mapping Project, developed by the ITU and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The project aims to pinpoint underserved and unserved communities, providing the data needed to guide smarter, targeted investment in digital infrastructure.
The Accelerator also facilitated the signing of new partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding among local and regional stakeholders. These agreements focus on strengthening digital infrastructure, developing digital skills and enhancing last-mile connectivity across the Caribbean.
The event also sparked collaboration with global and regional partners, including Mr. Dennis Zulu, The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, IamtheCODE, UNICEF and the European Union, who are now deepening joint efforts on digital inclusion.
New ideas advanced during the Accelerator included initiatives on digital learning, humanitarian connectivity and digital trade, directly supporting P2C’s mission to turn pledges into tangible impact for Caribbean communities.
“The CTU is pleased to reaffirm its commitment to support pledge implementation, monitoring and accountability under the global P2C framework, ensuring that regional efforts translate into measurable progress,” said Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU).
