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Earnings from exports of manufactured goods increased by 14.3 per cent in 2011, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, has said.   He said that the total value of exports from the sector was US $739.2 million, increasing from US$ $646.7 million in 2010. The Minister, who made the disclosure  at a planning workshop held on Friday...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, says that the staging of food festivals hold great potential for the country’s agro-processing industry. “By this, we are talking about activities that add value to agricultural materials and which can include a vast array of Jamaican fruits and vegetables, many of which are now being underutilised and wasted,”...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, has welcomed the launch of Anbell Trade Exchange Limited (ATX), which will facilitate a  barter system for Jamaican companies and professionals. The exchange will be membership based, enlisting companies that agree to barter with one another, by trading goods and services in exchange for trade credit or 'trade dollars.' It will...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes- Abrahams, has emphasised the importance of minimising bureaucracy and creating a favourable business environment for investors, in order to propel the economy forward. Mrs. Ffolkes-Abrahams explained that  a favourable business environment is critical, not only for attracting foreign direct investments, “but also essential for the development and sustainability of domestic...

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says critical focus will be placed on the services sector as the government continues its thrust towards economic development. Among the areas for attention are health, information communication technology (ICT) medical tourism, and financial services. Mr. Hylton was addressing business leaders, international experts and academia during the Mona School of Business Roundtable...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, said the Ministry is working to address trade constraints within the region, including the trade imbalance between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. “We are working closely with CARICOM on the range of trade and investment issues, including access to markets, the movement of people, and so on,” she stated. Mrs....

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging persons to practise proper budgeting and good money management, as they make their purchases. “It is very difficult to make choices during a constraint economy or where there is not enough funds to acquire everything you need at once…so, it is important that you make very knowledgeable choices and manage your money wisely,”...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, says he is on a mission to root-out all forms of corruption from all agencies and authorities associated with his Ministry. He noted that even “the very perception” of corruption must be eliminated from the Ministry. Mr. Arscott, who was making his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House...

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says there is a need for a relevant and well thought out services sector policy geared at strengthening employment possibilities, productivity and innovation in the Jamaican marketplace. He noted that such a policy would also position Jamaica to seize the many wide ranging opportunities available globally. “A well functioning services sector is...

Jamaica’s trade and investment agency, JAMPRO, facilitated the creation of close to 5,000 jobs during the last financial year. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, told Parliament during his Sectoral Debate presentation on Wednesday (June 20), that JAMPRO’s unaudited figures indicate that the agency facilitated 4,729 jobs, which is an increase of 10 per cent over its...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, is calling on Jamaican companies to move towards improving the quality of their goods and services by becoming certified. He said that certification is also critical in enhancing competitiveness. “The implementation of a quality management system can have an important positive impact on the improvement of product quality. I want to...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says the  Ministry is moving to advance the legislative agenda to address intellectual property (IP) challenges, given that IP is an important source of competitiveness. Mr. Hylton gave the undertaking in his 2012/13 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on June 20. On the matter of patents and designs,...