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Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses the Bethlehem Moravian College’s annual commencement ceremony held in Malvern, St. Elizabeth on Wednesday (September 12).
Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses the Bethlehem Moravian College’s annual commencement ceremony held in Malvern, St. Elizabeth on Wednesday (September 12).

Agriculture Ministry Looking to Establish Agro-Economic Zone in St. Elizabeth

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the Government is seeking to establish the first agro-economic zone in St. Elizabeth.  “Hopefully, by next year, we will be able to set up...
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (second right), loads forage into a silo packer, at the official handover of the equipment at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine on Wednesday (September 12). The silo packer, which was acquired through funding from the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH), project, will ensure the provision of high-quality feed for the dairy cattle industry. Chief of Party, Ja REEACH, Karyll Aitcheson (right), and stakeholders in the dairy industry look on.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (second right), loads forage into a silo packer, at the official handover of the equipment at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine on Wednesday (September 12). The silo packer, which was acquired through funding from the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH), project, will ensure the provision of high-quality feed for the dairy cattle industry. Chief of Party, Ja REEACH, Karyll Aitcheson (right), and stakeholders in the dairy industry look on.

Plans for Dairy Sector Revitalisation
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Karl Samuda (third right); and Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (third left), break ground for a new housing development, Monymusk Glades, in Jacksonville, Clarendon, on Wednesday (Sept. 12). Also participating (from left) are: Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Winston Maragh; Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Eastern, Hon. Rudyard Spencer; Board Chairman, National Housing Trust, Lennox Channer; and Director, SCJ Holdings Limited (SCJH), Horace Charoo. The development, which is a joint venture between NHT and SCJH, involves the construction of 84 serviced lots.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Karl Samuda (third right); and Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (third left), break ground for a new housing development, Monymusk Glades, in Jacksonville, Clarendon, on Wednesday (Sept. 12). Also participating (from left) are: Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Winston Maragh; Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Eastern, Hon. Rudyard Spencer; Board Chairman, National Housing Trust, Lennox Channer; and Director, SCJ Holdings Limited (SCJH), Horace Charoo. The development, which is a joint venture between NHT and SCJH, involves the construction of 84 serviced lots.

More Sugar Workers to Get Housing Solutions
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson.

Government Will Assist Farmers Affected by Any Hurricane – Hutchinson
President, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, highlights a point while addressing an Open Day held at the agency’s New Kingston offices on Tuesday (September 11). The Open Day was held as part of the entity’s 30th anniversary celebrations to showcase its work and impact over the years, including its contribution to the growth of the Jamaican economy.
President, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, highlights a point while addressing an Open Day held at the agency’s New Kingston offices on Tuesday (September 11). The Open Day was held as part of the entity’s 30th anniversary celebrations to showcase its work and impact over the years, including its contribution to the growth of the Jamaican economy.

JAMPRO to Launch National Business Portal Next Year

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Agriculture

Monitoring System to Ensure Refined Sugar does not get into Retail Trade

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says he has instructed the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) to establish a monitoring system to ensure that refined sugar imported for manufacturing purposes does not make its way into the retail trade. “Anyone found abusing the privilege of duty-free importation of refined sugar for the manufacturing sector, will suffer severe...
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz (second right), and Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness (right), speak with philanthropist and businessman, Michael Lee-Chin, who has donated $60 million to the industry that will be made available to needy coffee farmers. Occasion was a media briefing regarding the coffee industry at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, on Monday (September 10).
AgricultureEconomic Growth & Infrastructure Development

Help for Coffee Farmers

Small coffee farmers who have been severely affected by the ongoing decline in the industry will now have access to $60 million, which has been donated by philanthropist and businessman, Michael Lee-Chin and his family. The money, being made available through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will assist the neediest of the 7,000 registered coffee farmers. The announcement was...
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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (second right) looks on as Knox Community College student, Brittany Campbell (second left), points out features of hot and sweet pepper plants, during a Youth in Agriculture forum held at the college
AgricultureCommerce

Youth Encouraged to Pursue Farming as A Business

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says that the Government is committed to providing opportunities for young people to pursue farming as a business. He said it is in support of this mission that the Ministry has completed a draft National Youth in Agriculture Policy and implementation plan to be submitted to Cabinet shortly. It will...
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AgricultureEducation

Knockalva Agricultural School Now a Polytechnic College

The Knockalva Agricultural School is now a polytechnic college, providing greater access to tertiary education for persons in western Jamaica. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid,  noted that the rebranded institution, located in Hanover, will bring tertiary studies to the doorsteps of residents of the parish in addition to St. James and Westmoreland. “We cannot...
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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (second left), takes a close look at bamboo sauce, being shown to him by proprietor of KM3s Natural Juices, Khadesha Whyte (centre). Occasion was the media launch of the Caribbean International Bamboo Symposium at the Minister
AgricultureCommerce

Farmers Encouraged to Tap Into Market for Non-Traditional Exports

The island’s farmers are being encouraged to diversify agricultural production and grow more non-traditional crops for the export market. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who made the call, said that crops such as caster beans, sorghum, cannabis, coconuts and industrial hemp are in high demand overseas. He disclosed that a major coconut farmer from Guyana is...
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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), converses with Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams (right), at the Jamaica Electronic Single Window Project Mobilisation Seminar at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (September 5). At left is Chief Executive Officer/Commissioner, Jamaica Customs Agency, Velma Ricketts Walker.
AgricultureCommerce

Jamaica Implementing Single Window for Trade

Jamaica is implementing a single window for trade, which will greatly enhance the way in which goods and services are imported into and exported out of the island. The Jamaica Electronic Single Window Project, which will be rolled out by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) over the next 36 months, will provide one entry point for all import, export and...
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