PM Optimistic of Increased Investment

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, is expressing optimism that the second staging of the Jamaica Investment Forum (JIF) will bring increased investment to the country.

She was addressing the official opening of the two-day event earlier today (March 11), at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

The Prime Minister welcomed the over 137 foreign investors and overseas guests, who have been invited to participate in business discussions with Government officials, and some of the country’s leading business people.

She said Jamaica is ready for the transformation of ideas to real investment. “Our goal is to facilitate win-win investments that will bring you a good rate of return, and also create the jobs we desire for our people,” she said.

The Prime Minister noted that the 2015 forum, “seeks to build on the progress we are making in attracting world-class investments to our highly diversified economy.”

She said that the Government continues to provide the “nurturing and enabling environment” for investments to succeed. “This is why we are ensuring that the fundamentals of our economy are sound and sure, as we accommodate greater levels of foreign direct investments,” she noted.

The Prime Minister cited the country’s strong performance, measured by the major global business and economic indices, as evidence that the strategies are succeeding.

She said that Jamaica’s fiscal discipline has also won the approval of the big three international credit rating agencies – Standard and Poors, Moody’s and Fitch.

“I want to let you know that Jamaica continues to perform strongly and remains on track with our targets under the four-year Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We have passed seven consecutive IMF reviews. Our external debt continues to trend downwards with substantial improvement in our balance of payments,” the Prime Minister informed.

The Jamaica Investment Forum has attracted potential investors representing companies from Pakistan, Turkey, China, India, Spain, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, among other countries.

The two-day forum is being sponsored by JAMPRO, Commerzbank, Digicel Business and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).