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KINGSTON — The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is to develop a survey instrument that will be used to test customer satisfaction levels within the 21 agencies and departments of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce. The move comes as the Ministry implements its Citizens' Charter in keeping with the Government's objective of ensuring greater accountability, transparency and enhanced public...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has challenged members of the business community to ensure that there is greater collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders within the sector, in an effort to enhance the pace of entrepreneurial activities. "We cannot afford as a country, to have ‘hold ups’ in the implementation of entrepreneurial activities...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, has called on local companies to place greater emphasis on training their employees, to improve their competitiveness. "In the case of companies, you get employees with basic qualification, it is your responsibility to ensure that they continue the development process," Mr. Budhan said. "You ensure that...

KINGSTON — Jamaica Customs is on schedule to become an Executive Agency by April next year, ushering in significant reductions in turn-around time, improved customer service and cost recovery for more of the services offered. This was disclosed by Director of Operations at the Norman Manley International Airport, a major operational unit of Customs, Florence Howe, at the 41st Annual...

KINGSTON — The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) has strengthened its enforcement mechanisms on penalties for companies which are downright delinquent, having received its very first Order to commit a Director to prison for failure to file annual returns. Compliance Manager/Attorney-at-law at the COJ, Heather Mae Sutherland, explained to JIS News that "on October 27, the COJ scored a major...

KINGSTON — Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, is encouraging Jamaicans to build and maintain community groups, in order to receive funding for sustainable projects. Speaking recently in Smithville, North West Clarendon, where the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), broke ground for the rehabilitation of the Top Quarter Road at a cost...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has indicated that the Government's Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) policy could be ready by the end of the year. “This policy is long in making, but I think we are close to a final document,” Dr. Tufton said at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding...

KINGSTON — Government's thrust to help small businesses ramp up their operational standards and output, has been further advanced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), and the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises  (MSME) Alliance. The MoU, which was signed yesterday (November 1), at the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce,...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce is exploring the cloud computing industry, to enter into a contract that will mitigate potential risks, according to Permanent Secretary, Reginald Budhan. Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, is reiterating Government’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship to foster job creation and stimulate economic growth. “Entrepreneurship is an important factor in our economic development and this is reflected in our efforts to improve opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),” Mr. Budhan stated. He was...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that local exporters should become compliant with the new regulations under the United States’ (US) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), to enhance the quality and competitiveness of their products. “It is an opportunity for you to become more competitive, to boost your firm’s level of operation...

KINGSTON — Jamaica's private sector must now seize the opportunities flowing from the development and expansion of the country's ports and other transport infrastructure designed "to foster the seamless movement of cargo by sea, air, road and rail." This challenge came from Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Lt. Col Oscar Derby, during his presentation to the...