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The Government has included $50 million in the budget of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) to establish a secretariat to co-ordinate the legacy aspects of the Jamaica 50 celebrations planned for 2012. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, under whose portfolio the JCDC falls, says that the secretariat will ensure that legacies, both tangible and...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, on April 19 unveiled a draft voluntary code of conduct for banking/financial institutions. The code, which is being put forward for consideration for banks and other stakeholders, sets out standards of good practice that should serve as a guide for banks to follow when dealing with persons who are,...

KINGSTON — The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have agreed on the implementation of a business management and customer service software project, which will allow small businesses to engage in proper accounting, human resource and sales practices. “These are crucial areas within the small business sector…we want to assure (the IDB) that their...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce will be stepping up its campaign of encouraging micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become certified in ISO quality management system and other equivalent certifications. This has been stated by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan, who also informed that a quality management system is integral to the improvement...

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has called on local manufacturers to invest in the appropriate technologies, tools, and training, which will transform the sector and make it more competitive. He noted that while Jamaica had some of the most productive manufacturing workers, the industry lacked the requisite level of technological applications “that will make you more competitive."...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda has emphasised that despite the Government’s commitment to review waivers in the productive sector, it would be unwise at this critical time, to deprive the sector of these facilities. “It would be totally non-productive to deprive the manufacturing sector of any facilities that we offer now to enable them...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda says the Ministry is in an advanced stage of releasing $10 million, sourced from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), to the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ), for injection into productive activity. Addressing a press briefing at the Ministry in New Kingston, on April 6, Mr. Samuda explained...

KINGSTON — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon Karl Samuda, has described as “enlightening and successful”, the results of the trade mission he led to Trinidad and Tobago last week. Mr. Samuda attributed this to the establishment of linkages with counterpart agencies, and discussions on reducing the bureaucracy existing between both countries, as well as other states in the...

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,...