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State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, has underscored the importance of developing Jamaica’s capacity to produce more goods and services for export. This, she argues, is necessary in order to transform the economy into one which is competitively positioned globally, thereby generating significantly higher foreign exchange earnings. Speaking at a recent University of...

The Government’s logistics hub initiative will be a global asset of the scale and significance of the world’s other leading hubs in Rotterdam, Singapore, and Dubai. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, emphasised at a meeting with government communicators at Jamaica House on March 28 that the hub will have far-reaching economic benefits that go far beyond...

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton, is encouraging local businesses to attain internationally accepted certification of their management systems, as this will positively impact their organisations. The Minister was speaking at the inaugural staging of Certification Day, hosted by the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston, on March 27. He...

Jamaica has the potential to earn significantly through the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation -plus (REDD+) programme, by speeding up its schedule of greenhouse gas reducing projects. This according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Arun Kashyapwho said … “predictions are that (global) financial flows for (implementing) greenhouse gas emission reductions...

Activities in the country’s micro enterprise sector have been boosted by the establishment of the Jamaica Association of Micro Financing (JAMFIN). The organisation, which comprises several micro financing entities, seeks to advance the welfare of its members through partnerships forged with major private and public sector stakeholders.   Its founding members include: First Union Financial Company Limited; Kris An Charles...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says more can be done to increase business opportunities for female entrepreneurs in the Caribbean. “We must do more to assist existing women-owned micro and small businesses in growing and becoming more competitive,” she said. The Minister was addressing a graduation ceremony for the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) Training...

There has been an overwhelming response to the Government’s tender for the development of the Caymanas Economic Zone. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says the reaction to the first offer is such that the Government can go ahead with the project. “The response has come from all over the world and is at a level that...

St. Thomas residents are welcoming news of the proposed commodity port at Cow Bay, near Yallahs, as part of the Government’s proposed global logistics hub. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, told residents that Cow Bay has one of the deepest harbours in the world, at a natural depth of 51 metres. This, he said, gives it...

Discussions between the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Jamaica Bankers’ Association (JBA) on a draft voluntary Banking Code of Conduct, are at an advanced stage. The proposed Code of Conduct, drafted in 2011 under a Consumers International/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project, recommends principles and rules governing the manner in which banking institutions should operate, particularly in relation to their...

Cabinet is slated to receive the names of persons nominated to sit on the proposed Consumer Protection Tribunal, during its weekly meeting at Jamaica House on Monday, March 18. Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton, who will make the submission, says the Chairman and members have already been identified and the legal and legislative requirements put in place...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says the newly opened ARC Lumber Treatment Plant, is a welcome investment that will help to further grow the country’s economy. “The launch of this facility is a clear indication of the owner’s confidence in the country and its evolving business environment. The launch of the lumber treatment plant certainly represents...

Efforts are being made to provide adequate training for the local labour force, to ensure that persons can take up a significant number of the over 10,000 jobs expected to be generated by the global transshipment and logistics hub development. In this regard, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton, said the Logistics Task Force has secured broad-scale representation...