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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda. (FILE)

Pre-Packaged Sugar must be Appropriately Labelled

Come July 1, it will be mandatory for pre-packaged brown and granulated sugar to be appropriately labelled. This was announced by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, during a press conference at his New Kingston offices...

Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown (standing, second left) oversees the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between executives of the National Development Foundation of Jamaica (NDFJ) and the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Alliance, during a ceremony at the offices of the Ministry in New Kingston on June 22. Signing (from left) are President of the MSME Alliance, Donovan Wignal, and Chairman of the NDFJ, Dalma James. Also overseeing the process is Manager of the NDFJ, Helia Burkett. The MOU will facilitate training and other support services for small businesses.

Small Businesses to Benefit From NDFJ/MSME Alliance Partnership

President, Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), Hugh Johnson (left), in discussion with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, at the recent launch of the inaugural Caribbean Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Conference, at the Spanish Court Hotel.

MSME Conference an Opportunity to Build Partnerships – Johnson

ISO Ambassador/Consultant at the ISO Quality Systems Division in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Reginald Budhan (left), in conversation with (from second left) Managing Director, Quality Systems Solutions and Initiatives (QSSI), Sheryl Anderson; and Chairman, QSSI Board, Major Hugh Blake. Occasion was the launch of the QSSI Training Institute on June 14 at the Pegasus Commerce Centre, Upper Waterloo Road.

Food Producers Urged to Become Certified

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry (right), speaks with President, Small Business Association of Jamaica, Hugh Johnson, at the media launch of the inaugural Caribbean Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Conference at the Spanish Court Hotel on May 25. The conference is slated for July 19 to 21 in Montego Bay.

Jamaica to Host Caribbean MSME Conference July 19 to 21

9 years ago Commerce

Negotiations Under Way for Car Manufacturer to Operate out of Special Economic Zone

Negotiations are far advanced with a motor-vehicle manufacturer to operate out of one of the six special economic zones (SEZs) that have already been designated by the Government. Chairman of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority, Metry Seaga, said that the entity’s operations will mainly entail assembly. “We actually have some of the vehicles here now, and it’s a programme...

9 years ago Commerce

Exhibitor Finds Market at Christmas in July Trade Show

Ever since securing the United States Embassy as a major client at the first staging of the ‘Christmas in July’ trade show in 2015, Marketing Director of Sidcile Craft Limited, Sydia Brown-Griffiths, anxiously awaits the event each year. In that year, Mrs. Brown-Griffiths was requested to satisfy an order of approximately 200 custom-made straw iPad cases for the Embassy, and...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Stephen Wedderburn (right), in discussion with Executive Director of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office, Lilyclaire Bellamy (centre); and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Valerie Veira, on the first of a three-day workshop, at the JBDC resource centre on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, on June 13.

9 years ago Commerce

MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy to be Made More Effective

A review of the Micro, Small and Medium-size Enterprise (MSME) and Entrepreneurship Policy is being completed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, with a view to making it more effective. First adopted by Parliament in 2013, the Policy serves as a comprehensive framework for the implementation of strategies to support the growth and development of the MSME...

9 years ago Commerce

Gov’t Invests Over US$4.7 Million to Expand BPO Space

The Government is continuing work to expand the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector through investment of US$4,721,988.88 on further infrastructure buildout. Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said this includes a Cabinet-approved contract in the sum of US$3,792,630.13, which has been awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) to undertake foundation work for three BPO...

Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown (2nd left), in conversation with General Manager for the JN Foundation, Saffrey Brown (3rd left), at the opening of a two-day workshop on the social enterprise sector, today (June 7), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston. Others (from left) are Private Sector Specialist with the World Bank, Elaine Tinsley, and Senior Economist at the Bank, Natalia Agapitova.

9 years ago Commerce

Support for Social Enterprises

The Government is assuring investors in social enterprises that legislation and institutional reforms are being implemented for the sector. According to Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown, the sector is getting crucial attention to ensure widespread awareness of the concept of social enterprises, and the provision of business development support services. He was...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, addresses the media launch of the Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE), in January.

9 years ago Commerce

JIE Major Boost for Manufacturing – Samuda

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the recently held Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE) was a major boost for manufacturing and the services sector. According to Mr. Samuda, the three-day international trade show, conceptualised and executed by the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) in Montego Bay, was not only a huge success but provided an opportunity for...

President, Block Makers Association of Jamaica, Delroy Christie (right), highlights a point to (from left): Director, Human Resource Management and Development, Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Maurice Lewin; Executive Director, HEART Trust/NTA, Dr. Wayne Wesley; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA), Lorice Edwards Brown; and General Manager, Carib Cement Co. Ltd., Peter Donkersloot. Occasion was the media launch of an islandwide block makers sensitisation series at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica’s (BSJ) Winchester Road offices on Tuesday (May 30). The series will be held in six parishes from June 6 to 21.

9 years ago Commerce

BSJ to Conduct Training Sessions for Block Makers

Block makers across the island are to benefit from free training being offered by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) to improve standards and compliance within the industry. The BSJ is partnering with the HEART Trust/NTA to stage the sessions from June 6 to 21 at the training entity’s facilities in Manchester, Westmoreland, St. James, St. Mary, Kingston and St....