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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,...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda says the micro and small business sector remains a viable industry, despite other claims by some stakeholders. "I think that our micro and small business sector is very vibrant. There are players in the sector who have failed...because they have failed to seize the moment to take advantage of the opportunities...

Special Projects Manager of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Dr. Raymond Wright, has endorsed the statement attributed to Sagres Energy, the parent of Canadian firm, Rainville Energy, that the seismic structure indentified by the company in Jamaican waters was very significant and "could contain up to 3 billion barrels of crude oil." In an interview with JIS News, Dr....

The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) has announced that, by August 2011, the entity will be fully electronically friendly and more accessible to its customers. Speaking with JIS News, Compliance Manager at the COJ, Heather Sutherland, said that by March next year, clients will be able to register some documents online and will be able to do full online registration...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has said that consumer advocacy groups must step up their efforts if they are to remain effective in this era of e-commerce. Mr. Stern was speaking yesterday (Aug. 11), at the annual general meeting of the National Consumer League, held at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda is urging businesspeople in Canada to look to Jamaica, noting that the country has a lot to offer investors. "Jamaica is a stable country willing to participate as a partner in business. We have basic infrastructure that meets international standards and we have a workforce that is among the best in...