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KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan has expressed the hope that venture capital financing will increase, in order to provide more backing to the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. Mr. Budhan pointed out that whilst the Government has been seeing some successes in recent years, in terms of the opening up...

KINGSTON – State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has underscored the pivotal role which business support organisations (BSOs) play in enhancing the local and regional business community, particularly on matters impacting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Speaking at the opening of the fourth two-day CARIFORUM Regional Meeting of BSOs at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston,...

KINGSTON – Director of Port Clearance Audit at the Customs Department, Gail Dennis-White, says the agency and its clients stand to gain significant benefits from its transition to Executive Agency status, within the next 24 months. Speaking at a recent Customs and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) forum, at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Andrew, she pointed to...

LONDON – Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda says Jamaica is one of the most attractive places to invest and conduct business. Speaking yesterday March 17, at the opening of  the third annual Jamaica/United Kingdom (UK)  Investment Forum in London, the Minister said the   Government has devised a model to encourage business, which had at its core,...

Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, says the process to transform the Customs Department into an executive agency (EA) will get underway in the new financial year beginning April 1, with the transition to be completed within 18 to 24 months. He informed that the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, which has portfolio responsibility for the agency, still has...

Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, says it will cost in excess of $3 billion per annum to adequately finance the activities of the Customs Department, after the agency transitions to an Executive Agency (EA) over the next 18 to 24 months. Speaking at a Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) forum at the Four Seasons Hotel in...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern has called on local entrepreneurs and those in the creative industries, to ensure that their trademarks are protected across all countries with which they conduct business. Speaking at a forum on the Madrid system for the international registration of marks, at the offices of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), in New...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, is encouraging fashion designers to remain consistent in producing the highest quality apparel, which he says, is critical for the success of the industry. “The quality, the standard must be consistent. It is on that basis that we are going to be able to build a reliable brand and branding is...

The Government’s thrust in having the private sector invest in alternative energy, has received strong support from energy specialist with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Dr. Raymond Wright. Dr. Wright, Manager for Special Projects with the PCJ, who describes himself   as “an evangelist for private sector involvement in energy production,” told JIS News that he fully supported the move...

The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) is urging small business owners to register or renew their businesses to ensure compliance with the Registration of Business Names Act before the new fee structure becomes effective on April 4. In an interview with JIS News, Compliance Manager/Attorney-at-Law at the COJ, Heather Mae Sutherland, said that the Act governs the registration of sole...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, is encouraging local manufacturers to employ the required processes, to ensure their products are of the highest quality that will attract buyers and enable the business to grow and compete. “A product is only as good as the people who make it, the management skills that are applied to it and...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Michael Stern, has welcomed the investment and job creation opportunities stemming from the opening of the Payless ShoeSource franchise in the island. “With Payless being here, it is sending a signal to others, who are (looking at) investing in Jamaica to come quickly (and) take advantage of (the opportunities that exist). We are...