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KINGSTON — The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) is moving to provide Geographical Indications (GIs) protection for authentic Jamaican brands such as Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaica Jerk, and Jamaica Rum. Executive Director, JIPO, Carol Simpson, said the move would pave the way for registration of these products in other parts of the world, such as within the European Union. She...

The Government is moving apace to have the island's National Building Act approved, says Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton. "The first draft of this Act has been completed and reviewed by the broad based Building Code Implementation Steering Committee. The comments from the Committee are to be submitted to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for deliberation...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) has been instructed to fast-track efforts to protect brand Jamaica in the area of rum through Geographical Indication (GI) registration. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Christopher Tufton, who made the revelation during a tour of the Spanish Town Road manufacturing and bottling facilities of J Wray and Nephew e yesterday...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, is recommending that insurance companies partner with the government to install additional speed cameras at strategic locations in an effort to curtail speeding and indiscipline on the nation's roads. Mr. Budhan noted that approximately 90 per cent of motor vehicle accidents in Jamaica can be attributed to the...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, says the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial in tackling aspects of the global economic downturn. "The SME sector plays a vital role in employment creation and income generation and is, therefore, critical for achieving sustainable growth in any country," Mr. Budhan declared. He was...

MONTEGO BAY — Jamaica's efforts to create more jobs for its citizens got a major boost Thursday September 8, with the official opening of the Sir Richard Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, in Bogue, Montego Bay, which is committed to growing businesses in the Caribbean. The centre, established by British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, at a cost of some US$3.5 million,...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has assured wood furniture manufacturers that he will seek to increase export of their products, to drive development of the sector, and expand employment. "We have exported approximately US$170, 000 worth of wooden furniture over the last year and, at the same time, we imported approximately US$17 million....

“Many of the top business persons that I have spoken to, now tell me that the environment for doing business in Jamaica has never been better,” Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson, told a Public Sector Monitoring Committee (PSMC) seminar on Tuesday September 6. "They say this is the best macro-economic environment they have...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, is urging companies exporting food into the international market to get certified. He said that the United States (US) has given notice, through legislation passed earlier this year that food exporters must be certified to international standards for their goods to be allowed into the country. The Minister...

LONDON — Regional Manager of JAMPRO in the United Kingdom and Europe,  Laurence Jones (centre), speaking at a special  pre-Independence reception for UK investors at the High Commission in London.  Others (from left) are:  new Minister of Justice,  Hon. Delroy Chuck and  High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Anthony Johnson. The London office of the country's investment promotions agency, JAMPRO,...

KINGSTON — A study conducted by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) has found that Jamaica could realise billions in savings annually from greater efficiencies in the distribution and generation of electricity, which could have implications for the productivity sector. The study titled: 'Generation and Distribution of Electricity in Jamaica: A Regional Comparison of Performance Indicators,' was unveiled at a symposium...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says that Jamaica needs innovative risk takers, who can take advantage of the vast prospects that exists for the creation of businesses. "Jamaica is looking for the next set of innovators in order to blaze a trail and to create a following … that is so critical...