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Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has said that greater focus is to be placed on micro enterprises, which he feels, have largely been ignored in the thrust to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda. He said while more than 90 per cent of businesses in Jamaica fall...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda has reinforced the call for businesses to support local furniture manufacturers, and to push them to ensure that their products are internationally competitive. Mr. Samuda said that while imported furniture indicates that the taste of the Jamaican customer has risen to the level that propels local producers to make quality goods,...

The National Competitiveness Council has brought together the relevant groups from the public and private sectors to brainstorm ways to reduce bureaucracy in government and enhance the local business environment. At an extraordinary meeting, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, on (October 6), Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda said while there has been some reduction in...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has said that research and development are critical factors in stimulating innovation, economic growth and competitiveness. Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern. "Through research and development we have learnt new ways of feeding ourselves, developed innovative business ideas and products and provided technical know-how...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon Karl Samuda, says that plans are well advanced for the establishment of the 200-acre investment facility at Caymanas, St. Catherine. "We have some 14 local businesses that have expressed interest and are willing to purchase lots and build out facilities such as factories, stores, warehousing and (undertake) light manufacturing," Mr. Samuda said. Minister...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern has called for a new attitude to the financing of small businesses in the country, noting that alternative means of obtaining capital need to be explored. "Today, with most lending to small-scale enterprises being security-based, without any regard for potential cash flow, a whole range of alternative small business financing...

Matters relating to the small business sector were discussed today (September 21), at an inaugural conference, staged by the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel. Conference Chair, Bridgette M. Steele, who spoke at the opening , said the seminar is geared towards educating small business...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda has said that Jamaica's export sector must seek to expand and find creative ways to become more competitive in order to earn much-needed foreign exchange. According to the Minister "this country has one major problem, which is simply that we do not earn enough foreign exchange." "The fundamental problem is that...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has pledged his Ministry's full support for the country's productive sector in the effort to boost productivity and job creation. Speaking to JIS News following a tour of three locations in the parish of Hanover on Thursday (Sept. 16), Minister Samuda told JIS News that he plans to pay "a lot...

Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, will be moving soon to establish an 'Issues Registry', to address all concerns affecting exporters, in order to empower them to be more competitive and to earn more foreign exchange. Speaking with JIS News at the close of the second Exporters Forum, held at Hotel Riu, in Montego Bay, on September...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, says the development of an effective procurement policy for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is timely and will go a far way in creating a supportive environment for Jamaica's small business community. Speaking at a MSME stakeholders' meeting today (September 14) at the Jamaica Trade and Invest...

Effective October 19, the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) will be implementing changes to its fee structure, and introducing two new services. Speaking with JIS News, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the COJ, Shellie Leon said the changes would include increase/reduction in fees for some services and the introduction of other services to allow the COJ to operate more efficiently,...