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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...

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...