Chairman of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), Randy Dougherty, says Jamaica’s industry and commerce sectors can benefit significantly from the globally recognised accredited conformity assessments. A conformity assessment directly or indirectly determines whether a process, product, service, or person meets and fulfils stipulated technical standards. The engagement includes certification, inspection, testing, calibration, validation, and verification activities. These are performed by...

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has been facilitating various initiatives geared at promoting competitive markets and improvement in consumer welfare. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, today (August 24), Executive Director at the FTC, David Miller, said the entity has been collaborating with various Government entities, financial institutions and sectors to improve their operations and processes.  “We have been collaborating...

Vice President of Sales and Promotions at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Claude Duncan, says the country is poised to attract more businesses and investments, as a result of significant strides being made to ensure a business friendly environment for investors. In this regard, Mr. Duncan says JAMPRO continues to improve the market readiness of projects locally, to prepare project owners...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, is imploring gift shops, particularly those at attractions and airports, to display products made in Jamaica. Addressing the official opening of Things Jamaican Specialty Food Store, at Devon House, in St. Andrew, on August 22, the Minister said he recently visited an attraction and “struggled” to find locally manufactured items....

The burgeoning local bamboo and castor oil industries are to be included in the Agriculture Push-Start (APS) programme, as part of plans to capitalise on the value chain of these crops. Castor oil is to be added to the programme by the end of the year and bamboo is to be included at a later date. This was announced by...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says development of the Essex Valley irrigation project in St. Elizabeth is expected to start within the next three months. “This project will positively impact the livelihoods of over 700 farmers on 1,700 acres of land through the provision of irrigation water and increased access of our agricultural produce to...

As the nation gears up to celebrate 56 years of Independence next Monday (August 6), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called on Jamaicans to focus more on the sciences, commerce, industry and trade for the development of the economy and to make their mark in those areas across the world. Speaking at the Governor-General, His Excellency the...