International Businessman Joe Issa Supports Etiquette Tests for Prospective New Employees of Jamaican Corporations, Training to Add Value

At a time when globalization is exposing the weaknesses of many countries in competing with each other, especially in the Human Resource pillar, founder of Cool Corporation Joe Issa is supporting the use of standardized tests in etiquette to determine the suitability of prospective employees of Jamaica corporations, and to also prepare them to add value to their organizations.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“We are now living in a world without borders where competition is fierce, and making a good impression to those with whom you are planning to can make the difference between getting that big export contract or not.

“So it is critical for frontline employees to know the cultures of the countries with which their companies are trading, and being able to take advantage of opportunities to add value to their products,” said Issa.

For it was history-making former chairman and CEO of General Electric Jack Welch who once said, “Globalization has changed us into a company that searches the world, not just to sell or to the source, but to find intellectual capital – the world’s best talents and greatest ideas.”

Citing already-available books on the subject of etiquette, including standardized courses, Issa says “we do not have to invent the wheel as there are templates available; all we need to do is to pick those of the countries with which we are trading and to prepare employees to seize opportunities to improve the business in a number of ways.”

According to Wikipedia, some experts in etiquette teamed up with an international business group in 2011, to form a non-profit organization “to help HR departments of multinationals in measuring the etiquette skills of prospective new employees during the recruitment process by standardizing image and etiquette examination, similar to what ISO does for industrial process measurements.”

From the 16^th century to today, many books have been written on etiquette including: Baldassare Castiglione’s “The Book of the Courtier” – a courtesy book, dealing with questions of etiquette and morality; Erasmus of Rotterdam’s book on “Good Manners for Boys” in 1530; and Emily Post’s 1922 work on “trivialities” of desirable everyday conduct, but also provided descriptions of appropriate conduct for key life events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, said Wikipedia.

Later, Post is said to have set up an institution which continues “to provide updated advice on how to negotiate modern day society with good manners and decorum.” Her most recent edition is said to have provided advice on such topics as when it is acceptable to ‘unfriend’ someone on Facebook and who is entitled to which armrest when flying.

 

Amy Vanderbil

 

These etiquette books, as well as those by Amy Vanderbilt, Hartley, Judith Martin, and Sandi Toksvig outline, suggested behaviours for a range of social interactions. However, they are all said to have noted that “to be a well-mannered person one must not merely read their books but be able to employ good manners fluidly in any situation that may arise.”

Joe Issa Says Timely Facilitation of BPO Could Potentially Stem Rising Unemployment

Executive Chairman of Cool Corporation Joe Issa says he is pleased that the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is showing increased interest in the Caribbean, stating it is timely and should be facilitated as it could halt rising unemployment in the region.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton  

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“I am pleased that the region is attracting the interest of the BPO industry. It is a trillion dollar business that should be facilitated in earnest as it has the potential to reduce the rising unemployment seen in the Caribbean last year.

“Specifically, the region must give priority to putting in place the necessary infrastructure, workforce training and incentives to attract outsourcing services.

“It pays off in the end because BPOs do not only employ large amounts of workers but also quality workers, which raises earnings for workers and the country.

“Also, in most cases the appropriate training is provided by the BPO companies, with young people, among whom unemployment is highest, being the target for such training,” said Issa.

Issa, who has previously expressed concern over recent United Nations reports of rising unemployment in the Caribbean and Latin America, was directing his comments at a Gleaner article, in which executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), Pamela Coke-Hamilton, revealed that an investor perception survey initiated by CEDA in the final quarter of last year, had shown that nearly half of the respondents were considering outsourcing to the Caribbean.

According to the article, Coke-Hamilton told an outsourcing conference held in Jamaica in December, that indicative results of the survey show that investors are developing a multi-destination strategy based on the attractions of nearness and language.

She was reported saying that the survey showed the need for Caribbean markets to address developmental issues, including more incentive packages, and the provision of more data or market research on the BPO sector.

Regarding the pitch being made to investors, she reportedly cited the Caribbean’s 13 million-strong and qualified workforce and its nearshore destination which gives it a similar time zone as New York with daily flights from key markets, and relative to Miami is anywhere between 45 minutes to three hours away.

Speaking on the time lag for investments to materialise, Suzette Hudson, Caribbean Export’s senior adviser for investment promotion, reportedly told the Financial Gleaner that it can take anywhere from 18-24 months, suggesting that “from the event in December, we can see investments in the sector by early 2019, as we had some excellent leads and interest from BPO operators in expanding throughout the region.”

Among the nations attracting the increased interest of investors, she cited Belize and others which offer Spanish and English, Grenada, and St Lucia. She said, “there is also an interest in linking financial services with outsourcing, and smaller territories like Curacao are taking advantage of this by connecting with the Netherlands and positioning themselves in the fintech and cybersecurity market.”

Based on 2015 data across nine countries – The Bahamas, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Belize, and Trinidad & Tobago – the BPO industry is said to comprise more than 200 delivery centres and 74,000 agents.

According to Caribbean Export, between 2010 and 2015, the industry grew by an average of 17 percent, and that BPO and other professional services generated over US$2 billion in revenue in 2014.

In its online BPO booklet, Caribbean Export reportedly wrote: “Calculations show that companies in the region generate close to US$25 million in revenue for every 1,000 agents. The level of profit is around 7 percent for call centres, and close to 15 percent for non-voice, back-office shared services.”

It put the value of the global BPO market at US$1 trillion and the size of the cross-border outsourced services traded between countries at an annual US$88.9 billion in 2015. The value of Jamaica’s sector at that point, based on revenues generated, was reported to be US$400 million.

The most significant share of this revenue is said to go to the Asia-Pacific region, which dominates the market for outsourced services with a near 70 percent share, followed by Europe with 10 percent, Canada 9 percent, and Latin America with 9 percent.

“Among the noticeable trends in the global BPO industry is the focus on new, innovative offerings, for example in contract structuring, with BPO providers becoming more creative in landing mega-sized and multi-year outsourcing deals,” the booklet reportedly noted.

According to the Gleaner, it added that among the recent trends seen are, “smaller BPO engagements, with clients splitting a deal into smaller, more specialist providers, as opposed to using one large provider; and more flexible location solutions – for example, agents working from home, onsite, nearshore or offshore – are now possible, thanks to technological advancements.”

Reports of Humanity Imperilled by abuse of life-giving Nature Serious But Not Surprising — Joe Issa

The decline in animal species over time has often served as a warning of human abuse, and according to environmental advocate Joe Issa, a recent study highlighting the demise of the northern white rhinos is no exception, stating it is serious.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

Najin (L) and Fatu graze together (Photo: AFP)

Issa, who has stated more than once before that humans are sewing their seeds of destruction, and backed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, emphasised the need for worldwide education and corrective action.

“It is critical that such findings be shared widely as people and governments around the world need to know the extent of the damage being done to mother earth, for them to take corrective action.

“We cannot reverse it, but we can sure reduce the impact by reducing carbon emission and taking mitigation measures,” said Issa. “If we are not climate resilient we will feel the full force of global warming.”

In this recent AFP report out of Medellín, Colombia, Najin (L) and Fatu are pictured grazing together in their paddock. They are said to be the only two remaining female northern white rhinos at the ol-Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, north of capital Nairobi.

It said Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, has died in Kenya at the age of 45, after becoming a symbol of efforts to save his subspecies from extinction, a fate that only science can now prevent.

According to the report, Humanity is risking its well being by over-harvesting and harming Nature’s bounty, citing a recent comprehensive survey that warned animal and plant species were in decline in every region of the world.

Four mammoth reports that took more than 550 scientists three years to compile, reportedly warned that Asia-Pacific fish stocks could run out by 2048 and more than half of African bird and mammal species could be lost by 2100.

It said up to 90 percent of Asia-Pacific corals will suffer “severe degradation” by 2050, citing the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

“This alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security and the quality of life of people everywhere,” according to the most extensive biodiversity survey since 2005.

 

IPBES chairman Robert Watson

 

“We are undermining our future well-being,” added IPBES chairman Robert Watson.

The report said the IPBES brought together experts from around the globe to assess four world regions: the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia – all the planet except for the Antarctic and the open seas.

The volunteers combed through some 10,000 scientific publications.

After days of intense word-by-word negotiations, envoys from the IPBES’ 129 member countries approved summaries of the four reports, which will guide governments in policymaking.

Unless humanity reverses its unsustainable use of Nature, we risk “not only the future we want but even the lives we currently lead,” Watson was quoted as saying.

“If we continue the way we are… the sixth mass extinction, the first one ever caused by humans will continue,” he reportedly told AFP.

The report quoted scientists saying that humanity’s voracious consumption of biodiversity has unleashed the first mass species die-off since the demise of the dinosaurs — only the sixth on our planet in half-a-billion years.

The IPBES reports noted that the Asia-Pacific region’s biodiversity faces “unprecedented threats from extreme weather events and sea level rise, to invasive alien species, agricultural intensification and increasing waste and pollution.”

Joe Issa Gives an A-plus Rating to New Event on JMA Calendar

Member of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Past President Advisory Committee Joe Issa has welcomed the latest addition to the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) calendar of events, describing it as an “excellent” idea and a ‘shot in the arm’ for Jamaican businesses and the economy.

Joseph Issa

 

Issa joins Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO) Chairman Don Wehby and Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda, who have lauded the vision of the JMA for its inaugural staging of Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE).

“I applaud the JMA president [Metry Seaga] and his team for coming up with the idea of another international trade exhibition to boost uptake of its members’ products. The event is also a shot in the arm for the Jamaican economy,” says Issa, who in an interview.

Issa notes that “international trade shows create an excellent platform for the promotion of the country’s exports which, for decades has lagged behind imports, thus creating a massive trade deficit and putting pressure on our foreign exchange.

“I particularly like the idea of hosting the exhibition in the tourism capital as it will reinforce and strengthen the strong links between manufacturing and tourism,” says Issa, who has been a big supporter of the one-of-a-kind exhibition, JAPEX, dubbed ‘the island’s premier travel trade show’ and serves as a platform to promote leading Jamaican suppliers of the island’s tourism product.

Issa, who chairs the board of the St. Ann Development Company (SADCO) which has a massive stake in the tourism sector and is also head of Cool Corp, one of Jamaica’s largest retail conglomerate, says the JIE will be “a great sourcing ground for both local and international companies seeking to increase their product offerings.”

Only recently, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett launched five new tourism linkages networks – sports and entertainment, shopping, knowledge, health and wellness, and gastronomy – which, in addition to manufacturing and agriculture, would further diversify Jamaica’s tourism offerings, create business opportunities and increase the use of local goods and services within the tourism sector.

Noting that the upcoming JMA exhibition in the convention centre is timely and will benefit many sectors, Issa says, “It will provide opportunities to support recent measures for many sectors of the economy,” citing Minister Bartlett’s recent addition to the tourism linkages networks, which cut across Minister Sumuda’s portfolio, as well as those of Dr Tufton, Minister Grange and Minister Reid.

While stating that the exhibition provides a platform for several sectors to showcase their products to local and international hotels and restaurants, Issa says, “There will be many other suppliers from Jamaica, the region and the global community, who do business with supermarkets, wholesalers and retailers they might be interested in our value-added agro-products, our famous spices, our nutraceuticals, our manufactures, clothing and accessories, and many other local products.”

He adds, “Some foreign companies may also be interested in our growing BPO sector, creative industry and our athletic sport and entertainment products…there may even be promoters looking to tap into how Jamaica puts up its world-renowned stage shows…moreover, we must not forget venture capitalists, who may be interested in our inventions and products and take positions in Jamaican companies,” says Issa, whose over-50 companies are being leveraged internationally.

 

Joe Issa Urges Continued Good Governance for Corporate and National Growth

As 2017 emerges from the twilight of a year he characterised as a landmark in the recovery of the Jamaican economy, member of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Past President Advisory Committee Joe Issa is urging continued good governance, stating “it pays for your business as well as the country.”

Joseph “Joey” Issa

 

“2016 was an excellent year for the economy all the indicators suggest that while we have much work left to be done, the economy has started to recover.

“You can tell by the big increase in the money supply in December, that confidence had returned, so I am urging companies and institutions to continue exercising good governance in order to sustain the growth we saw so far last year,” says Issa, executive chairman of Cool Corporation, one of the largest retail conglomerates in Jamaica.

Issa’s views are backed by the significant business watchdogs. The Jamaica Manufacture Association has highlighted the downward trend in inflation and exchange rate movements, among others, while the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce acknowledged growth in tourism and Business Process Outsourcing, also among others. Noting that it is cautiously optimistic, the island’s chamber said: “we are starting to see growth increase in the money supply means more confidence in the economy.”

Said to be no stranger to advocating accountability and integrity in governance Issa once suggested that politicians enter into a pack with the constituents whom they are asking to vote for them. The idea, which became known as ‘The Issa Initiative’ was famously supported by both political parties and the island’s Chambers of Commerce.

Issa Initiative

 

Despite not having been implemented Issa’s idea was highly praised by the country’s leading newspapers for its landmark quality, with the Gleaner calling it “a watershed in Jamaica’s political culture”.

Big on governance, he famously mediated a conflict which had the potential of unsettling the island and its governance structure. The country’s powerful 13 chambers of commerce had threatened to march to parliament if a tax on street lights, which the business community would have had to pay, is not rolled back. Having been chosen to represent the chambers in their dispute with the government, Issa successfully negotiated the rollback of the tax.

Stating that good governance is not only for governments but importantly, for the business community whose performance is linked to its governance structure, Issa says, “When you exercise good governance, communicating frankly and widely, being accountable and exercising transparency, all else being equal you will succeed, as well as the economy.” Moreover, Issa is not alone.

Marlene Street-Forrest

 

General Manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Marlene Street-Forrest has also encouraged local companies to pursue best practices in governance as one means of achieving not only individual corporate growth but also to produce better economic conditions for Jamaica.

In urging firms to embrace the philosophy that good governance is the bedrock of sustainable development and longevity, she said, “Good governance and profitability are the cornerstones of every great company, and we believe that this drives profitability.”

Professor Neville Ying

 

Professor Neville Ying, chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Best Practices Committee, also alluded to the connection between governance and success. In explaining the reasoning behind the renaming of the Governance award under the Chairman’s, he says, “The fundamental aim of this renaming was to lift the profile of this award to reflect the growing importance of corporate governance in the sustainable development and success of businesses.”

 

‘Only Electric Cars Allowed’: Joe Issa Mulls Value of Petrol, Diesel Cars Ahead of 2040 UK Ban

Ocho Rios businessman Joe Issa chews on results of a survey which shows that some British motorists are already expressing concern about the value of their gas and diesel cars ahead of the proposed ban in 2040.

“I think it is too far away to put a figure on the anticipated percentage reduction in gas and diesel cars when the ban comes into effect in 2040.

“If it is that UK motorists will not be able to buy a new fuel-driven car from 2040 onwards, nor will they be able to import new or used petrol cars from other countries.  then I expect them to either ditch their cars ahead of the ban or keep them for as long as possible, especially if the new electric cars cost much more relative to the patrol cars.

“In any case, used cars will usually be expected to become cheaper for both UK and foreign buyers like Jamaicans, due to the anticipated relative increase in supply as motorists ditch them for new electric cars.

“As to how long before or after the ban UK motorists will sell their used cars, I expect them to give consideration to the local annual rate of depreciation and bank financings requirements, such as the maximum eligible age of a vehicle, which largely determines car imports by dealerships in Jamaica and other countries.

“We can stretch the analysis even further and argue that with the expected increase in the supply of used UK cars, and thus the price, this could reduce the demand for Japanese imports and therefore cost.

“I also expect that about three years after the ban, when all existing used petrol cars in the UK will be too old to be sold abroad as a viable option for, say, Jamaican dealerships, we will see a correction in the price of Japanese used cars. So the window of opportunity is a short-term one,” said Issa, who is a former student of the famous London School of Economics (LSE) in the UK.

Issa was commenting on a survey of over 18,000 British motorists which shows that a fifth of them was concerned that their car would lose value ahead of the government’s proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040.

According to the AA Cars survey which was reported by PA Motoring, 21 percent of UK motorists fear that their current petrol or diesel car will be worthless because of the forthcoming ban.

The Cars poll also found that diminished car values were a more significant concern than environmental impact, with just nine percent of participants claiming they were worried about the green credentials of their current vehicle.

The article said “on the flipside, though, 17 percent of drivers did suggest they had become more aware of the environmental concerns surrounding vehicles powered by fossil fuels.

“As the 2040 ban is still quite some way off, 67 percent of participants believed that it was unlikely to affect their choice of car for at least the next few years. However, 10 percent claimed to be less inclined to buy a diesel or petrol car as their next vehicle.”

Director of motoring services at AA Cars Simon Benson is quoted as saying: “An ongoing stream of negative press and blanket legislation around diesel and petrol vehicles has made UK drivers somewhat jumpy when it comes to buying new cars.

“This is laid bare in the October SMMT figures, which saw a double-digit drop off in new car registrations – with diesel, in particular, noting a 30 percent decline.

“This research lends some insight into why consumer confidence is dwindling. With inflation creeping northwards and Brexit uncertainty weighing on consumer purse-strings, British drivers are increasingly concerned that buying a new car is not the investment it once was.

“2040 might be a long way in the future, but the ban on sales of petrol and diesel helps add to the picture that the days of emitting vehicles are numbered. More needs to be done to improve the picture of cleaner diesel models – or we risk talking the new car market into deeper trouble.”

‘In Pursuit of Medical Ganja Industry’: FDA Approval Defining Moment for Brand Jamaica Today – Joe Issa

Today ushers a new era for brand Jamaica with the announcement that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a Jamaican cancer-treatment drug developed from ganja, says the founder of Cool Corporation Joe Issa in an interview.

Issa, who supported founder Dr Henry Lowe and the movement for a pharmaceutical ganja industry to be established in Jamaica, and backed the associated legislation, join the many well-wishers and the business community who are already calling for more exploits in others areas of ganja medicine.

“It is a breakthrough for Dr Lowe and brand Jamaica, which is so linked to its music, culture and products that are distinctly local such as cancer and other drugs created from ganja.

“To have any drug approved by the FDA is a great feat, and it takes added significance if it is a cancer drug, as every year thousands of Jamaicans and hundreds of millions from all over the world continue to die of cancer.

“But when you get approval for a cancer drug developed from ganja, with the best raw material abounds in Jamaica, it gives the event new dimension, making it a defining moment in the quest to exploit the medicinal potential of the plant and enhance brand Jamaica,” Issa argues.

Urging maximum monetisation for Jamaica Issa, who has many licenced brands, suggests immediate and tight protection for the latest ganja-drug discovery, which he says can attract huge investments.

The drug that made the breakthrough – after much research in the potential of ganja’s medicinal value is Chrysoeriol, which has been granted orphan-drug approval by the FDA.

It is said that Chrysoeriol can treat what is referred as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) present in patients who are harbouring the FLT3 mutation. FLT3 is one of the most commonly mutated genes in AML patients. FLT3 mutations are found in some 30% of patients’ leukaemia cells, according to a Gleaner article.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica’, Economic and Social Survey, said recently, that the unconditional probability of Jamaicans dying from cancer between ages 30 and 64 had increased by 100 percent, from 7% in 2010 to 14.7% in 2013, and that 3,621 Jamaicans died of cancer in 2015. It also said breast and cervical cancer were the most common cause of death in women cancer patients, and for men, it is prostate cancer.

“More research into other cancer-treatment drugs made from ganja and other local plants now looks more attractive as a business venture, if not for charity; either way it will save lives and further boost brand Jamaica,” said Issa, who is also a philanthropist with at least three charities to his name.

‘Bidding Farewell to Legendary Sprinter Usain Bolt’: Win or Lose His Kind Comes Along Only Once in a Lifetime – Joe Issa

The legendary sprinter, Usain Bolt brings the curtain down on his career at the London World Championships, accomplished academic and businessman Joe Issa has congratulated him stating win or lose people like him come into being only once in anybody’s lifetime and that his career is the stuff of legends.

“Whether he wins or loses People like Bolt come only once in a lifetime. We either acknowledge this and treasure him, or endure a lifetime of regret waiting for another like him to emerge,” Issa said, stating, “What Bolt has done is what legendary people do…He is what legends are made of.”

Issa, who is said to have won enough local and international awards to cover an entire wall in his office, has often praised Jamaicans for their global achievements.

In the case of Bolt, Issa has praised him several times the most recent was his liking for the sprinter’s impassioned plea, “Hard Work Pays Off” and his humility and desire for others to follow in his shoes.

“There’s no virtue in bragging about your successes and holding it tightly and discouraging others from coming up to emulate your achievements,” Issa said in a May 2016 blog, adding, “I like Bolt’s plea for athletes to step up and fill the void he will soon leave behind.”

He has urged other athletes to emulate Bolt’s achievements, especially as they did not come easy and took a lot of hard work.

Just earlier Issa – who is believed to be no stranger to achieving firsts in his academic, and professional career – congratulated Bolt on winning his 6^th straight IAAF sportsman of the year award.  Claiming, “what he has achieved is astonishing, and if he runs next year at the World Championships he could extend his six-time run as male world athlete of the year.”

Soon after, he hailed the new Bolt film as “fit for the archives”, joining Prime Minister Andrew Holness and soccer icon David Beckham, who also thought it was inspirational.

Issa was also one of the many who congratulated Bolt on winning the 2016 RJR Sportsman of the year award, his 7^th  locally, since skyrocketing ‘to the world’, joining legendary boxer Michael McCallum as the most successful male athlete in the history of the 56-year-old RJR awards.

And ahead of Rio Issa said in a blog,“I back Bolt to successfully defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m crowns in Brazil, and get the unprecedented ‘triple-triple’ in his last Olympic Games. If he succeeds, he will have achieved the most unlikely feat in the history of sports, surpassing Jamaican-led Leicester City’s recent Premier League win. I believe he will bow out in style.”