Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Monique Gibbs, says the Government continues to modernise the secured transactions framework in order to expand the scope of assets that operators of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can use as collateral for loans. “We want to balance the preferred traditional forms of collateral such as motor...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), Hon. Floyd Green, says a collective stakeholder approach is needed to mitigate the impact of climate change on Jamaica, particularly in the agricultural sector. “Climate change demands that we bring change and innovation to the sector. We have to work smarter and we have to increase our...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) has signed three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for the establishment of three new Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs). The MOUs were signed at the JBDC’s corporate office in Kingston on Tuesday, October 1, with the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE); University of Technology (UTech); and Edna Manley College of the Visual and...

The National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) says its partnership with local businesses to achieve conformance to established standards, will result in increased confidence in Jamaican products. Speaking with the JIS News, NCRA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lorice Edwards Brown, said the regulatory agency expects its work to increase the marketability of Jamaican products. “Our mandate is to create confidence...

Canadian businessman and former Chief Executive Officer of Canopy Growth Corporation, Bruce Linton, says the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) has instituted one of the best cannabis regulatory systems in the world. “They have created a platform that works very quickly. When I look at the chain of custody for where the products come through and the social presentation of it...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, will be partnering with the Harvard International Phytomedicines and Medical Cannabis Institute (HIPI) in the United States on initiatives aimed at improving the country’s competitiveness in the global cannabis industry. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, in making the disclosure, said that representatives of HIPI will be visiting the island from September 30...

State Minister for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says Jamaica has an integrated plan in place to ensure the country’s preparedness for any outbreak of exotic animal diseases and threats. He said that the plan, which is managed by the National Emergency Animal Disease Committee (NEADCOM), is in accordance with Jamaica’s Animals (disease and importation) Law, and...