The EX-IM Bank will be disbursing at least $8.1 billion in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) this fiscal year. This is an increase over the $6 billion in financing to the MSME sector for 2019/2020. Minister of Industry Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, said that the increased support “is particularly within the context of the...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has developed a National Five-Year Manufacturing Growth Strategy for Jamaica, aimed at achieving $81 billion per annum in manufacturing output by 2025. “This translates to an approximate annual average growth rate of three per cent over the five-year period,” said Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw. He was making his contribution to the...

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) is reporting that members are having success on the local and export market since the COVID-9 outbreak in March. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, said based on a report from the JMEA, listing some 20 Jamaican companies, the country has been able to replace some imported products, such...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is advising that public gardens under its control are now open with effect from June 17. These are Castleton Botanical Gardens in St Mary, Cinchona Botanical Gardens in St Andrew, Bath Botanical in St Thomas, and Hope Botanical Gardens as well as Hope Zoo in Kingston. The opening follows a declaration made...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says that the Bernard Lodge Development project is designed to help modernize and expand the agricultural sector by increasing production, thereby improving Jamaica’s food security, creating jobs, and growing the economy. He noted that Jamaica’s agricultural sector plays an essential role in our country’s economic growth and development, accounting for more...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says amendments have been made to the Agricultural Produce Act, which will be submitted to Cabinet shortly. The Act is part of strategies being used to combat the “scourge of praedial larceny”. Making the announcement at a virtual town hall meeting on praedial larceny on...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has emphasised that persons must report incidents of praedial larceny, if the scourge is to be eliminated. “I want to encourage more farmers and other stakeholders in agriculture to come forward and make reports to the police. It is the only way we can fight...