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KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon Karl Samuda, has said that more emphasis has to be placed on production, to increase Jamaica's industrial competitiveness. “I think, in the past, not enough emphasis was placed on production, as a key factor in determining the extent to which we are competitive,” Mr. Samuda stated, prior to a tour of...

The Jamaican Government is welcoming news that the off-loading of the most recent shipment of Jamaican cement exported by Caribbean Cement Company Ltd. to the Dominican Republic has begun. The consignment of cement, valued at some US$250,000 had been prevented by interests in the Dominican Republic from being off-loaded since mid-April. In response to the commencement  off-loading, Minister of Industry,...

President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Sancia Templer, says that Jamaica is in an excellent position to take advantage of the global trend in wellness tourism, because of its natural resources and first-rate health care professionals. Speaking at a Health and Wellness Tourism Stakeholder Workshop at the Terra Nova Hotel, Kingston on Wednesday, Mrs. Templer noted that there were many...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, wants the Dominican Republic to take immediate action to allow a shipment of 250,000 tonnes of cement from the Caribbean Cement Company Limited’s (CCCL) Rockfort plant to be unloaded. "We expect the Dominican authorities to use their good offices to have this product cleared, no later than the next...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda has argued that more needs to be done collectively among member states of CARICOM, to formulate a co-ordinated approach to tackle the trade issues of dumping and subsidised imports within the region. “We must harmonise our approach, harmonise legislation, so we can ensure that whatever we do in one...

KINGSTON — Newly appointed Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Chadwick Anderson, says he is looking to deepen ties with players in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector to conduct research and develop new products to support industry needs. The move, he tells JIS News, is in keeping with Government’s focus on the development of the...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, has suggested the merging of some small businesses, to improve their competitiveness and efficiency. He said that this level of co-operation would greatly assist small business owners, who may be finding it difficult to survive on their own.  “Maybe if we start co-operating and, rather than...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has welcomed the 'I am the Change' programme stating that it will help to develop an entrepreneurial culture among the nation’s youth. The initiative, which was launched on Wednesday, April 20 at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) offices in New Kingston, is aimed at empowering and preparing selected secondary level...

The Government has included $50 million in the budget of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) to establish a secretariat to co-ordinate the legacy aspects of the Jamaica 50 celebrations planned for 2012. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, under whose portfolio the JCDC falls, says that the secretariat will ensure that legacies, both tangible and...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, on April 19 unveiled a draft voluntary code of conduct for banking/financial institutions. The code, which is being put forward for consideration for banks and other stakeholders, sets out standards of good practice that should serve as a guide for banks to follow when dealing with persons who are,...

KINGSTON — The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have agreed on the implementation of a business management and customer service software project, which will allow small businesses to engage in proper accounting, human resource and sales practices. “These are crucial areas within the small business sector…we want to assure (the IDB) that their...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce will be stepping up its campaign of encouraging micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become certified in ISO quality management system and other equivalent certifications. This has been stated by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan, who also informed that a quality management system is integral to the improvement...