The Government’s proposed motor-vehicle pre-shipment inspection programme is slated for implementation on July 1, 2017. It aims to provide a transparent motor-vehicle importation policy that safeguards consumers. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, says there are discrepancies that have “adversely affected” several purchasers in recent years as it relates to the model year of vehicles being older...

The CEO/Commissioner of Customs, Mrs. Velma Ricketts Walker, has reiterated that the use of the Automated Customs Management System, ASYCUDA World, is necessary to achieve greater efficiencies in a modern customs administration. According to Mrs. Walker, one of the areas in which the Agency has seen significant improvement is the use of the advance manifest, 24 hours prior to the...

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), through the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), has been efficiently facilitating the implementation of various reforms to improve Jamaica’s business climate and performance on key global competitiveness indices. JAMPRO monitors several international indices, particularly the Doing Business Report of the World Bank, Logistics Performance Index and the Global Competitiveness Report from the World Economic Forum. Speaking...

A new Fisheries Bill, aimed at further safeguarding the local sector, is to be tabled in Parliament shortly. The Bill, which will replace the Fisheries Act of 1976, will establish the legal and regulatory framework that creates the enabling environment for the sector’s sustainable growth. This includes ramping up measures to tackle poaching and unregulated fishing in Jamaican waters, Industry,...

Persons wishing to apply for Intellectual Property (IP) registration will benefit from expedited processing of documents at an Open House to be held at the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) in New Kingston today (April 25). The first 100 applicants will qualify for this “hot desk” service during the event, which is slated to run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30...

An export programme is to be developed for small and medium-sized businesses to assist with enhancing the global competitiveness of these entities. This was disclosed by President of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA), Michelle Chong, who said the programme is expected to be launched before the middle of the year. “We will be having a full-fledged export curriculum to take...

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is advising our customers that its online Customs Electronic Payment (ASYCUDA ePayment) service is now available; all intending users can now revert to making use of this modality for payment to effect cargo related formalities. The service had become unavailable on Wednesday April 12th resulting from emergency measures to restore access to the Customs automated...

Specifically selected entrepreneurs within the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector are to benefit from continued development support under Phase 2 of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) Mobile Business Clinic Initiative (MBCI). The new phase of the initiative was officially launched yesterday (April 12) during a ceremony to unveil the JBDC’s 2017 programmes, at the Terra Nova All-Suite...

Private-sector leaders have attributed the unprecedented high levels of business and consumer confidence in the economy to several key factors. Notable among these, according to Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Immediate Past President, Warren McDonald, is successive Administrations’ commitment, particularly within recent years, to continue policies and programmes initiated by their predecessors that are deemed feasible. Mr. McDonald says persons...