< Previous18 NOVEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO NNORTH AMERICAN REPORTSby G ARY DAUGHTERSgar y.daug hter s @ site s ele c tion.c omWhere the Warehouses AreDemand for distribution placed to support e-commerce drove the top 100 industrial leases, by size, for the first half of 2018. Five regions scattered across the U.S. accounted for more than half of the lease activity, according to a report by CBRE.12A Room with a ViewWhen it comes to building office morale, maybe forget the company chef, the office ping-pong table and bring your dog to work day. A new study finds the top perk craved by employees is access to natural light that affords a glimpse of the outdoors. More than one-third of 1,614 North American workers told the HR advisory firm Future Workplace that their workplaces suffer from a dearth of natural lighting. An October release from a U.S. Green Building Council survey corroborates that view about views: 85 percent of employees in LEED-certified buildings said their access to quality outdoor views and natural sunlight boosted their overall productivity and happiness.Photo: Getty Images5 S I T E S E L E C T I O N NOVEMBER 2018 19You Can Call Me EarlHis Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, attended the September 20th dedication of Jaguar Land Rover North America’s new headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey. Situated on a 12-acre (4.9-hectare) campus, the 144,000-sq.-ft. (13,378-sq.-m.) facility represents an investment of over $30 million by Jaguar Land Rover.A Tale of Two BridgesAfter years of delays and legal disputes, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Windsor, Ontario, to mark the of cial start of construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor to Detroit. The Canadian government will nance the $5.7-billion project, to be open to traf c by the end of 2024, with Michigan to pay back its share of the costs through tolls collected on the U.S. end. The 3,000-ft. (853-m.) span is being built about two miles from the aging, privately-owned Ambassador Bridge (shown at left), whose owners have long contested the Gordie Howe project and have announced plans to build a rival bridge replacing the Ambassador. 1. Dallas 90% 2. Austin 63% 3. New Orleans 60% 4. San Francisco 56% 5. Houston 54% 6. Seattle 47% 7. Fort Lauderdale 43% 8. Nashville 41% 9. Los Angeles 37% 10. Boston 36%Photo courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover North AmericaPhoto by Mark ArendSource: FAAPhoto: Getty ImagesTariffs: Easing the PainAs of late October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had made payments of approximately $53 million to U.S. farmers harmed by other countries’ retaliatory tariffs. The USDA said it was readying additional payments of $78 million. About 60,000 farmers have applied for payments under a $4.7-billion USDA agriculture program.433665Fastest Growing U.S. Airports (2007-2017)The Caribbean region is strengthening its ties to markets around the world, most recently with Singapore and Norway. In October, Singapore’s second Ambassador to CARICOM, Her Excellency Karen Tan, said her appointment represented Singapore’s commitment to “continue to work to sustain and deepen” its engagement with the region, and to fi nd new avenues for cooperation. CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, is a grouping of countries – member states and fi ve associate members, stretching from the Bahamas in the north to Suriname and Guyana in South America. To date, she noted, , offi cials from CARICOM have participated in various programs including public administration, urban planning, fi nance, information technology and civil aviation in Singapore.Ambassador Tan said cooperation in Disaster Risk Management or Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is also available. is off er was announced in by Singapore’s Foreign Minister, His Excellency Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, when he met the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) during its th Special Meeting on the sidelines of the nd United Nations General Assembly. Singapore is also working with partners in Latin America such as Chile and Argentina to off er ird Country Training Programs for CARICOM; opportunities Ambassador Tan said she hopes offi cials will maximize.Ambassador Tan said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can be a by MARK ARENDmar k .ar end@ site s ele c tion.c omCARIBBEAN20 NOVEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO N(Continued on page )Caribbean Community Deepens ASEAN, Nordic TiesPhoto: Getty ImagesCAN OTHER SECTORS FOLLOW BPO’S LEAD?Jamaica in 2018 is redefining the roles it can play on the global business and industry stage. Its leaders know they have a dependable tourism industry, some manufacturing, agribusiness and shipping and logistics. To the latter point, in time, Jamaica wants to be the “Singapore of the Caribbean” serving as a shipping and logistics hub for all of Latin America. Leaders spoke in June at the 2018 Jamaica Investment Forum of the need to cultivate its agribusiness industry more effectively so that the island nation can be less dependent on the U.S. and other markets for its food supply (see the Editor’s View, July 2018). This is a nation with enormous potential and a relatively new government committed to seeing it met.An industry that needs no recalibrating — and one whose success story the other sectors could take a page from — is Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, which is booming. JAMAICAOcho Rios, JamaicaPhoto: Getty Images22 NOVEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO Nby MARK ARENDmar k .ar end@ site s ele c tion.c omBPO in Jamaica is much more than cubicle farms of customer service phone personnel. It’s tech support, insurance claims management, legal, HR, IT and other functions; the sector contributes more than US$ million to the Jamaican economy. at fi gure should rise to $ million by , according to the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica. From Montego Bay — particularly at the Free Zone there — to Ocho Rios to Portmore to Kingston, developers can’t build space fast enough for the BPO companies that already employ more than , workers. Most of them are expanding.Some have already leased space in HWT, a $-million Integrated Technology Park in Kingston’s St. Andrew Parish, where Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground in September . e park will have the largest BPO facility in the English-speaking Caribbean, providing , call-center seats and more than , permanent jobs.Irvine, California-based Alorica is expanding its Jamaica presence with , sq. ft. at HWT. “With the success of our two existing sites in Jamaica — Kingston and Portmore — we’ve added another location in Kingston, making us the third largest business process outsourcing (BPO) company on the island,” reports the company in a release. “Boasting the largest footprint out of the three operations, this site plans to create , jobs between the end of and early . As a result, Alorica will employ approximately , local employees on the island, servicing clients in the media and entertainment, hospitality and high-tech industries.”Regional Leader in the MakingIbex Global CEO Bob Dechant explains Jamaica’s appeal to his BPO operation, which started in Jamaica with seats at one site in and has grown to , at three sites in . “Jamaica is positioned well to be the leader for Caribbean/LATAM markets,” he tells Site Selection. “Its longstanding democracy and history of peaceful transitions of power have positioned it well. It’s taking a leadership position within the Caribbean, helping other countries establish themselves as potential places for BPOs to do business.”Ibex is investing heavily in Jamaica because its clients increasingly prefer that back-offi ce functions take place closer to the U.S. In comparison, notes Dechant, the Philippines, where many BPO operations are located, is seen as more risk-prone and distant — it can take a full day just to get there compared to a few hours to get to Jamaica from most eastern U.S. locations. It’s nearshoring, pure and simple, with a plentiful supply of educated, English-speaking workers. And forget what you thought you knew or might have heard anecdotally about hiring in Jamaica years ago. “Contrary to old narratives, the Jamaica workforce is highly motivated, very professional and love the BPO jobs we have created,” says Dechant. “Our business is approximately , full-time equivalents in the Kingston side of the country. Agent attendance and retention are metrics we measure closely globally to ensure our agents are committed and engaged. Our Jamaica business competes very well globally.” JAMAICABob Dechant, CEO, Ibex GlobalItelbpo, Montego Bay, is Jamaica’s largest homegrown BPO.Photo courtesy of itelbpo S I T E S E L E C T I O N NOVEMBER 2018 23This section was sponsored by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). For more information visit www.jamaicatradeandinvest.org.24 NOVEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO NMaster sample Pull Quote, to use as a template.”— John Doe, vice president, Sample Companyuseful partner for CARICOM in the areas of trade, investment promotion and sustainable development, with Singapore serving as chair for this year. CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque welcomed the opportunity to work together with ASEAN in areas of shared interest. He said CARICOM has recognized, and he has personally witnessed, the significant advancements Singapore has made in infrastructural, environmental, social and sustainable development and in ICT. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Singapore’s offer to support the CARICOM’s vision to become the first climate-resilient region in the world. He also commended the country for designating 2018 as the “Year of Climate Action,” to raise national consciousness around the need to take individual and collective action to fight climate change for a sustainable Singapore. Singapore and CARICOM have worked in unison, Ambassador Tan noted, to advance their common interests and to overcome challenges in international fora like the United Nations and in groupings such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2015, she co-chaired the Preparatory Committee of the 3rd Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference in Samoa which allowed SIDS to promote key aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals. Singapore’s ties with the region date back to 1971 when it established diplomatic relations with Trinidad and Tobago.Alliance to Target Clean and Healthy Oceans Norway also has a new envoy to the Caribbean Community. Ingrid Mollestad presented her Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General at the headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, in October. On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, CARICOM Foreign Ministers, the Secretary-General, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations had discussions with the Nordic countries at an annual breakfast engagement which was attended by Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.Ambassador Mollestad said the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the CARICOM Foreign Ministers and Norway in 2016, provided an excellent framework for further work in areas in which her country has keen interests including climate change, climate adaptation and resilience, clean and healthy oceans and the blue economy.In that context, Ambassador LaRocque noted that the Community welcomed the structured review of the regional fisheries sector aimed at strengthening capacity. He said CARICOM also appreciated the comprehensive marine survey of the region to be undertaken by a Norwegian Research Vessel. In addition, he said the establishment of a High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, aimed at promoting science-based decision-making in the fields of ocean economy and ocean management, is of great relevance to CARICOM, comprised for the most part of small states with large marine territories.“Balancing our development aspirations with our desire to be more respectful of our marine, and land, environment is a major priority for CARICOM,” he said, expressing appreciation for this kind of cooperation from “friendly countries such as the Kingdom of Norway.”He said the Community welcomed the statement in New York by Norway’s Foreign Minister that the Nordic countries supported the removal of the GDP criteria, in respect of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for small, middle-income countries which have been affected by natural disasters.This follows on the statement by Norway`s Minister for International Development, His Excellency Nikolai Astrup, in May, when he told CARICOM Foreign Ministers that Norway’s official position was that graduated countries should be eligible for ODA when their economic base is ruined by a catastrophe.Noting that concessional financing should not hinge on a disaster, Secretary-General LaRocque said CARICOM proposes that “per capita income criteria should not apply in instances where countries are seeking to invest in building resilience to climate change before a disaster occurs.” (Continued from page 20)The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can be a useful partner for CARICOM in the areas of trade, investment promotion and sustainable development.— Karen Tan, Singapore’s Ambassador to CARICOM26 NOVEMBER 2018 SI T E S E L E C T IO NWORLD REPORTSby G ARY DAUGHTERSgar y.daug hter s @ site s ele c tion.c omPhoto courtesy of Majid Al FuttaimPhoto courtesy of Samsung4Snow in Shanghai’s ForecastWith China preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Shanghai has broken ground on what will become the world’s largest indoor snow and ski resort. Wintastar Shanghai is being developed in conjunction with Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim, the company that launched the celebrated Ski Dubai, the rst indoor ski slope in the Middle East. Majid Al Futtaim says the 968,752-sq.-ft (90,000-sq.-m.) Wintastar resort will feature three separate slopes, including one built to “Olympic standards.” The project marks the company’s rst foray into the international market outside the Middle East and North Africa, where it’s currently developing snow parks in Egypt and Oman.11Flipping Out in IndiaSamsung in September opened its largest product display center in a converted opera house in Bengaluru, the southern Indian city formerly known as Bangalore. The 33,000-sq.-ft. (3,066-sq.-m.) facility showcases a vast array of Samsung products, including the Whiplash Pulsar 4D chair that can replicate space battles and extreme aircraft stunts. “Samsung Opera House,” said the company in a statement, “will be a must-do destination for the city’s millennials looking for exciting tech-enabled experiences and entertainment.” Samsung is trailing China’s Xiaomi in a contest to win-over Indian consumers, who constitute the world’s second-largest smartphone market.2 S I T E S E L E C T I O N NOVEMBER 2018 27Wait, Where?The Australian town of Kapooka, (you know, the one near Wagga Wagga), is the site of a $24-million satellite communications station being built in New South Wales for the Australian Defense Forces. Shovel in hand, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack helped break ground on the project in late September. Satellite Ground Station East will be a key component of the ADF’s future SATCOM capacity, allowing military personnel deployed across the Indo-Paci c region to connect to strategic communications networks in Australia. The project is being spearheaded by Northrop Grumman Corporation Australia and California-based Viasat, a global telecommunications company.5Source: Getty ImagesPhoto courtesy of Northrop Grumman325A Singapore SurgeSingapore surpassed China in the rst half of 2018 to become Asia’s leading outbound real estate investor, according to data compiled by CBRE. Singaporean capital accounted for 35 percent of Asia’s total of $25.3 billion in outbound investment, CBRE reports, with London absorbing a leading 26 percent of the region’s total out ows. Chinese investors decelerated overseas acquisitions, says CBRE, to improve balance sheets and lock in pro t from earlier investments. Singaporean investors pumped $3.4 billion into Europe and a second-running $2.3 billion into the U.S. during the rst six months of 2018.331Africa’s Top DesignsEcobank Ghana in Accra won the award for Best Of ce Development of 2018 at the Africa Property Investment (API) Summit & Expo in September. “The spirit of Ghana is supported from the contextual façade to its upbeat interior,” said API in its commendation of South Africa-based ARC Architects. Firms from Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius and Rwanda also were honored for developments in 11 categories ranging from retail, residential and sustainability to mixed use and alternative design.444444444444444444444444444444444Next >