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Over the next month, Jamaica will begin paying 10 per cent more for rice from Guyana, resulting in a minimum 10 to12 per cent increase to consumers on the local market. This was stated by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, at a press conference at the Ministry, in New Kingston, today (March 17). The Minister explained...

Local manufacturers will get a chance to market their goods and services, and network with international buyers at EXPO Jamaica 2010, which will be held from June 17 to 20 at the National Arena in Kingston. The biennial event, hailed as the Caribbean's premiere trade show, is being staged under the theme: 'Brand Jamaica to the World!' and will feature...

Over 100 individuals and entities, who participated and contributed to the success of the Kingston Urban Renewal Project (KURP), were recognised at an awards and recognition function held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, yesterday (March 4). The aim of the 18-month project, which draws to a close on March 12, is to contribute to the improvement of the...

Jampro, formerly Jamaica Trade and Invest, has re-opened its office in Canada after a five-and-a-half-year absence. The office, managed by Regional Manager, Robert Kerr and with support from Senior Consulting Officer, Nardia McKenzie, will service all of North America and is situated at the Jamaican Consulate General in Toronto. Speaking to JIS News recently, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce,...

A programme to recognise and highlight recently established small businesses and provide them with necessary publicity and support to enhance their operations, was launched yesterday (March 2) at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. A partnership between the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) and Continental Baking Company Limited (National Baking), the initiative dubbed: 'The Bold Ones: New Champions of Manufacturing'...

There are viable business opportunities to be derived by local micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) stakeholders, from the prevailing global economic recession. This has been emphasised by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Ms. Valerie Veira. "We (JBDC) recognise that there will be many gaps within local markets to fill, because things won't be...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has commended the Manchester Chamber of Commerce for producing a business directory, describing it as a tool for economic development. The Minister, who was addressing the launch of the book, at the Golf View Hotel, on February 23, noted that the contents of the publication dealing...

With just a week to go before the close of the charities amnesty, the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) is making an urgent appeal for charitable groups to take advantage of the reduced costs for filing documents. Charitable groups include churches, charitable organisations, service clubs, professional associations, community-based organisations and other such groups, which are registered under the Companies Act...

The island's charitable groups are taking advantage of the amnesty offered by the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) to file outstanding returns at reduced costs. COJ's Acting Compliance Manager, Heather Mae Sutherland, said that the amnesty has been a success with more than 500 groups benefitting so far. "There has been significant saving for the companies and that is why...

More than 31,000 disbursements amounting to $1.5 billion have been made to micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) stakeholders, under the Government of Jamaica/Government of the Netherlands MicroFIN/JA Programme, over the last 10 years, State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has disclosed. The MicroFIN/JA Programme, which falls under the Ministry's purview, focuses on extending credit to...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda has said the relocation of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica from its downtown offices to its current New Kingston site, will save taxpayers more than $1 million in rental costs annually. "This (was) a business decision and I want to re-emphasise the fact that this is a business Ministry and we...

Jamaica has become the first country in the Caribbean to acquire full International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 accreditation for certifying quality management systems. The National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) recently attained official authorisation to provide internationally recognised certification for management systems in and outside of Jamaica. Manager of the Certification Unit at the NCBJ, Sheryl Mullings, speaking at...