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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...

The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) is inviting charitable groups in Manchester to attend an amnesty interactive session tomorrow (Feb. 10) at the Golf View Hotel, 5

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, says the Ministry is in the process of establishing a single entity that will focus on the needs of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking at a meeting of Board members of participating stakeholder agencies in the Government of Jamaica/Government of the Netherlands MicroFin-Jamaica Programme, held at the...

The level of improvement at Jamalco in 2009 was the highest among alumina refineries in Alcoa's Global Primary Products (GPP) network. This was announced by Alcoa's Executive Vice President and President of Alcoa's GPP Business Unit, Mr. Bernt Reitan, who led a high level team of Alcoa Executives on a visit to the Clarendon based bauxite and alumina facility, this...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) received a total of 1,735 complaints from consumers for the period April to December 2009, representing a 35 per cent increase in the number of complaints over the similar period for 2008. Speaking with JIS News, Communication Specialist at the CAC, Miss Dorothy Campbell stated that of the 1,735 complaints received, 1,464 cases have been...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has announced that the Government's efforts to divest its factory spaces has so far resulted in the sale of $43 million worth of property. Mr. Samuda told the House of Representatives yesterday (January 26), that the Factories Corporation of Jamaica was intended to be a developer of facilities, which would then...