Executive Director of the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), Dr. Charles Douglas, says the new 15-member Board will assist the agency to “spread the productivity message” The new Board will be chaired by President of The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) Limited, Metry Seaga. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ yesterday (November 9), at the agency’s head office in...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, joined with German and local investors in ushering a new industry into the local economy with the launch of German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) Limited on Thursday (November 3). Mr. Holness said the Jamaican-German company, which started operations last week, aligns with the Government’s vision of making Jamaica a logistics-centred economy, and expressed...

Consumer groups are being urged to shift their traditional role of advocacy, and engage more in education on the rights that purchasers of goods and services have. Making the call, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said the organisations must refocus, as new markets, products and services through the Internet and other technologies create the potential...

President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, Luis Alberto Moreno, says digital finance has the potential to significantly boost the economies of countries throughout the region. Citing a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, he said the widespread adoption of digital finance could boost the gross domestic product (GDP) of all emerging economies by $3.7 trillion per year over...

Renowned Jamaican scientist Dr. Henry Lowe, is the recipient of the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Local Innovator Award for his work in the development of novel medicinal and other products from the Jamaican Ball Moss. The presentation was made on Monday (October 24), at the IDB’s 19th Forum for Markets Innovation and Capital (FOROMIC) at the Montego Bay Conference Centre...

Conch exporters have been granted permission to pay the levy for the 2016 season in instalments. Through passage of the Conch (Export Levy) (Special Provisions) Act revival resolution in the House of Representatives recently, exporters will be allowed to complete payment within three months of the date of submission of the application for an export health certificate and export licence...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the manufacturing sector is a major target area in the Government’s push for economic growth and job creation. “Manufacturing in Jamaica is not dead. Manufacturing is alive and kicking,” Mr. Holness said, following a tour of the Wisynco Group’s White Marl complex in St. Catherine on October 19. The Prime Minister hailed...

The recent passage of three key pieces of legislation in the House of Representatives should better position Jamaica as a place of choice to facilitate the administration of international financial and business services. These include: the General Partnership Act 2016; the Partnership Limited Act 2016; and the International Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act. The General Partnership Act will formalise...

Medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to explore business opportunities in new and emerging industries. Assistant Business Advisory Services Manager at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Keera Walters, said that globalisation has changed the needs of the marketplace and entrepreneurs should see this shift as a chance to develop new business concepts and products to meet...