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MONTEGO BAY — The Customs Department is reporting significant earnings for the first quarter of the 2011/2012 financial year, with the revenue target overshot by $1.4 billion. According to Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, the increase in earnings is despite a cut in rates for the importation of motor vehicles, which he describes as a courageous move on the part...

WASHINGTON — A variety of top Jamaican gourmet foods will be on show in the United States capital, at the 57th Summer International Fancy Food Show, to be held at the Walter E.  Washington Convention Center, beginning this weekend.  The Jamaican Promotion Corporation, JAMPRO, is leading a delegation of exporters in the agro-processing sector to the event, which lasts from...

New Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton has described Heads of Missions as economic stakeholders and important players in the process of  getting investments into the country. Delivering his first address to the diplomats at a Heads of Missions meeting, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, on June 30, the Minister said he would be working closely...

KINGSTON — Six local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are to receive some US$5 million in grant funding to carry out micro-enterprise, agricultural and climate change projects under the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Development Grants Program (DGP) The groups, which were announced at a function held on June 29 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston are the...

TORONTO — Listening to Mark Jones speak, one would surmise that the best decision he has ever made was visiting Jamaica in 2007. Four years later, the Chairman of Global Gateway Solutions, a call centre firm, has investments in companies employing approximately 1,000 Jamaicans in real estate, financial services and Information Communication Technology (ICT). At the JAMPRO-sponsored, “Invest in Jamaica:...

KINGSTON — State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, says the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean grew by six per cent during 2010, despite the impact of the global economic recession. Speaking at the Mona School of Business (MSB) second annual roundtable discussion at the University of the West Indies (UWI), on June 16, Mr....

KINGSTON — State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, says Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states must enhance inter-regional trade, if they are to collectively address the decline in economic activity consequent on the global economic depression. Speaking at the Mona School of Business’ (MSB) second annual Roundtable dialogue at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre, University of...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), Reginald Budhan, says the ministry has intensified its programme to get laboratories accredited, and business stakeholders certified with the International Standards Organization (ISO). This is to ensure that products being exported meet the stipulated standards of the countries for which they are intended, Mr. Budhan said. He was speaking...

KINGSTON — A programme to enable local exporters to take advantage of market opportunities and increase export earnings was launched at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel, New Kingston yesterday. ‘Export Max: Enterprise Development Programme for Exporters’ will focus on the development of a cluster of export-ready clients, as opposed to the strategy of broad engagement and support for all exporters. It...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, is imploring players in the export and productive sectors to ensure that goods destined for the international market are of the highest quality in order to be competitive. “We have to be competitive so that our prices are razor sharp, and quality and quantity must be consistent,” he said,...

KINGSTON — President of JAMPRO, Sancia Bennett-Templer, says the agency will be working to formulate a major strategy to take advantage of emerging investment opportunities. The JAMPRO head said international trends have shown that foreign direct investments (FDIs) are poised for recovery. She said the agency is working to ensure that the country can take advantage of these prospects. Speaking...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda says the Government will be breaking ground to start the first phase of the infrastructural development of the Caymanas Economic Zone, in St. Catherine, as early as August. He pointed out that the Factories Corporation of Jamaica has purchased some 200 acres of land, previously owned by the Urban...