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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (centre), closely examines fibre optic cable at CB Cabling Technologies’ display booth, while Director of Technical Services at the company, Clarence Blake, explains its use. Occasion was the closing ceremony of the 2016 Scotiabank Vision Achiever Programme held at Scotiabank Corporate Learning Centre in Kingston on August 31. At right is Vice President for Marketing, Scotiabank Jamaica, Yanique Forbes.

Samuda Calls for Lowering of Interest Rates on MSME Loans

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is calling for banks to lower interest rates to single digit, in order to boost production and growth within the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. He cited agriculture...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (second right), and Director of Fisheries in the Ministry, Gilbert Kong (second left), observe as vendors prepare fish for sale, prior to the start of the opening ceremony for a wellness fair co-hosted by the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Community Safety and Security Branch and the Greenwich Farm Fisherfolks Beach Watch Community Group, at the Greenwich Farm fishing village, located along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, on August 26.

Gov’t Hints at Possible Renovation of Greenwich Farm Fishing Village

Managing Director at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (at podium), delivers the keynote address at the launch of a $19-million programme to boost the country’s capacity to produce clean Irish potato seedlings, on August 15 at the Scientific Research Council (SRC) offices in St. Andrew. Others (from left) are Chief Post-Entry Officer at the Bodles Research Station, Dr. Peta-Gaye Chang; Consultant/Trainer with the programme, Dr. Juan Carlos Perez Guerra, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry.

JSIF Allocates $19 Million to Boost Production of Potato Seedlings

General Manager for the Commercial Division of JP Tropical Foods, Neil Crum-Ewing, addresses a recent JIS Think Tank.

JP Tropical Foods to Upgrade Facilties and Increase Production

St. James Farm Queen 2016 Sofiya Clennon (3rd right), visits the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) booth at the St. James Business, Health and Opportunities Fair at the Montpelier Agricultural Showground on August 4. Others (from left) are JAS Secretary for St. James, Shanacay Yee; Nethel Scarlett and Clover Record.

Scores Turn out for Montpelier Business, Health Fair

Presenter from the United States, Damian Fagon, makes his contribution at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) forum on Castor Oil at the agency’s New Kingston headquarters, on August 9.

10 years ago Commerce

Castor Oil Industry Stakeholders to Benefit from Study

Stakeholders in the local castor oil industry have been given a first-hand look at an exclusive study geared at taking advantage of the burgeoning sector, by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). Presented at JAMPRO’s New Kingston headquarters on August 9, the study examined recommendations for development and steps to capitalise on the Jamaica Black Castor Oil (JBCO) value chain. Presenter from...

The Cannabis Licensing Authority says it will issuing licences to sell marijuana products soon.

10 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Jamaicans Urged to Stay Away from Unlawful Ganja Products

The Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) is appealing to Jamaicans to stay away from unlawful marijuana products. The agency, which falls under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, was established in 2015 under the Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act, with a specific role to establish and regulate Jamaica’s legal ganja (marijuana) and hemp industry. In an interview with JIS News,...

Top performer in the Digital Youth Employment Initiative, Recardo McLarty (centre), receives a trophy from Executive Director of Avasant Foundation, Chitra Rajeshwari (third left). Occasion was the graduation ceremony for the third cohort of trainees under the programme held on August 5 at the University of Technology (UTech), St. Andrew. Others (from left) are Vice President of HCL Technologies, Joe Hogan; Country Manager, Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), Anand Biradar; Vice President of Community Service and Development at UTech, Prof. Rosalea Hamilton; Country Director, Xerox, Leroy Reid; and Acting Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Rebecca Robinson.

10 years ago CommerceEducation

120 Young People Being Trained for BPO Jobs

One hundred and twenty young people are being trained for jobs in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector this summer under the Digital Youth Employment Initiative. The project is being implemented by the American-based foundation, Avasant, in partnership with the University of Technology (UTech), and through support from Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). It is aimed at promoting skills development, and...

Expectant mothers attending the Montego Bay Type V Health Centre enjoy milk presented by Island Dairies Limited on Friday (August 5). They are the beneficiaries of a project to provide expectant mothers across the island with fresh milk to enhance their health and that of their unborn babies.

10 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Expectant Mothers in Montego Bay Receive Weekly Supply of Milk

Scores of expectant mothers, who attend the Type V Health Centre in Montego Bay, will receive a weekly supply of fresh cow’s milk from Island Dairies Limited. They are the beneficiaries of a programme aimed at enhancing the health of pregnant women and that of their unborn babies. It is being undertaken by the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB), an...

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left); and Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (2nd left), share a laugh as they examine cassava used in the production of Red Stripe Beer. Occasion was a tour of the company’s plant on Spanish Town Road on August 3. Managing Director of Red Stripe, Ricardo Nuncio; and head of Corporate Relations, Dianne Ashton Smith, also share the light moment.

10 years ago AgricultureCommerce

Expansion of Red Stripe Cassava Project to Create More Jobs

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has committed the Government’s full support for plans by Red Stripe to expand its cassava project, which will create more jobs for Jamaicans. “As far as we are concerned, working together as we have been, you have our 150 per cent support in everything you are undertaking,” he said. Minister Samuda...

Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown (left), engages in a light moment with Charge d’Affaires of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Jamaica, José Luis Martinez Prada. Occasion was a certification presentation ceremony for patent examiners held recently at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry.

10 years ago Commerce

70 Patent Examiners Trained

Applying for a patent in Jamaica should be quicker and easier now that the local pool of competent examiners has increased. Over 70 patent examiners were recently trained during two one-week workshops coordinated by the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) with financial support from the European Union. They are certified to assess requests for patents, which grant applicants the right...

President of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) Michelle Chong (left) engage in conversation with Vice President of Marketing at Coca Cola for the Caribbean, John Pinto at the JEA Global Talk Speakers Series held on July 15 at the Terra Nova Hotel.

10 years ago Commerce

JEA to Increase the Country’s Export Earnings

The Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) is aiming to increase the country’s export earnings from US$1.2 billion to US $2.5 billion by 2019. Speaking at the Agency’s Global Talk Speaker series, on July 15 at the Terra Nova Hotel, President of the JEA, Mrs. Michelle Chong, said the country will achieve this through collaboration and less competition. “It is achievable, as...