Organic farmer Fonyije Chigozili is hoping to break into the European market. She has benefited from valuable assistance to achieve her goal under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). Under the programme, local fresh produce, processed sauces and mixes have duty-free quota access to markets in Europe, tapping into a market of...

Applicants for the National Innovation Awards are urged to protect themselves and their property. The competition, which invites innovators in various fields of science, technology and innovation, requires that applications bear the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) seal. Executive Director at JIPO, Lillyclaire Bellamy, speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, said that as part of the competition, “we encourage...

Cabinet has approved several multimillion-dollar contracts for expansion of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, and for infrastructural work across the island. They include a US$5-million contract to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), for foundation works for some 63,000 square feet of BPO space in the Montego Bay Free Zone, St. James. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the...

Five local films will premiere at the upcoming Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival (TTFF), slated for September 20 to 27 in Port-of-Spain. The projects are ‘Original’ by Kurt Wright and Noelle Kerr; ‘Shock Value’, Adrian Lopez; ‘Shoot the Girl’, Tony Hendricks and Natalie Thompson; ‘Sugar’, Laurie Parker, Sharon Leach and Michelle Serieux; and ‘The Silent Ones’, Gregory Lopez and Janet...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, is reporting that work is advanced for the application of a cess on all imported coffee. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said that most of the legislative work to facilitate the move has been completed. He was delivering a speech on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at...

Jamaica’s Film Commissioner, Renée Robinson and 19 industry leaders left the island on September 7 to attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) from September 8 to 14. The delegation, which includes local film-makers, producers, production managers and other industry representatives working in content creation, broadcast and television services, will use the festival to seek development prospects for Jamaican films...

Jamaica’s gradual transition to a ‘logistics centred’ economy has prompted the need for integration of various sectors, public-private partnerships and ongoing research and discussions by key stakeholders. The prospect of Jamaica becoming a globally competitive logistics hub stems from its strategic geographic location along the major shipping lanes combined with its connectivity to global markets and proximity to North America....