CEO of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Valerie Veira is urging Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) to engage in cluster activity to generate higher income. She was speaking at a recently held international seminar “Technology transfer to countries in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Business Support” in Brno, Czech Republic. According to Ms. Veira, data from the...

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has developed standards for sporting goods and equipment, aimed at reducing the likelihood of serious accidents on the playfield and promoting safety in sports in school. They are the Jamaican Standard Specification for the safety and performance of football goals; and the Jamaican Standard Specification for Children’s playground and associated equipment. Minister of Industry,...

The Registered Apprenticeship Programme (RAP) is to be allocated increased funding in an effort to boost its effectiveness. This was announced by Senior Director in the Workforce Development and Employment Division of the HEART Trust/NTA, Denworth Finnikin, at a stakeholder consultation, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, in Kingston, on October  6. “Very topical on the agenda of the...

Revenue of more than $37 million has been realised by eight social enterprises across the island, which have benefited from a capacity-building project initiated by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation. This income was generated over the life of the three-year project, dubbed the ‘Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI)’. Implemented in 2013 in collaboration with the United States Agency...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says the creation of an enabling business environment is essential for competition to thrive. “Competition is the hallmark of a robust business environment.  It drives innovation, forces increased efficiency in the use of resources and often results in a reduction of costs to consumers,” the State...

The country’s food exporters are being urged to become compliant with global labeling requirements in order to increase access to international markets. Certified Food Scientist, Dr. André Gordon, said that roughly 10 per cent of Caribbean food products entering major markets over the past 10 years have been rejected due to improper product labelling.  The markets include: the United States (US),...

Nine Jamaican leaders are currently participating in the Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD), which started on Sunday (September 20) in Ottawa, Canada. The programme, geared at building the capacity of leaders selected from business, Government, labour and civil society across the Caribbean and Canada, will run for two weeks until October 4, under the theme: ‘Leading through Innovation and Transformation’....