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The Government is to consider the divestment of 10,500 acres of former sugar-cane lands in St. Catherine, to be used for high-yielding, highly profitable production of non-sugar crops and livestock. It is expected that these lands will mostly attract large investors engaging in onion production, fruit tree orchards and exotic crops. This is according to Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, is encouraging micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) owners, especially farmers, to keep records of their business activities, so they can have better access to loans and other capital they need for growth. Speaking at the Ministry’s CEO Breakfast Forum held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, in New Kingston...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Ministry is working with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (JMEA) and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) on the development of a Five-Year Manufacturing Strategy. He said that the strategy will be tabled in Parliament as soon as it is approved by Cabinet. Mr. Shaw, who was making his...

The Government has commenced work to establish Jamaica’s National Trade Portal, which was approved by Cabinet in 2017/18. This was disclosed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, while opening the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). Mr. Shaw, who indicated that the portal is being established under the Government’s Trade...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is spearheading implementation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Quality Management System across priority agencies of Government. This is according to Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who was opening the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). The 10 agencies under the Ministry are among...

The Government has programmed capital expenditure of approximately US$950 million on business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism projects, through Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), for the 2018/19 fiscal year. This was disclosed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, while delivering the opening 2018/19 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). Mr. Shaw...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says he will be placing more focus on fisheries during this fiscal year, with the hope of increasing the nation’s earnings from the sector. Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House on May 1, Mr. Shaw said in addition to focusing on the development of this sector,...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says an aggressive fruit tree planting programme will be implemented over the next five years. As part of this initiative, dubbed the Greening of Jamaica, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs will make available the first one million seedlings over the next year. “We want to plant one million fruit trees per year...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says he will be working towards developing a new plan during this fiscal year for long-term growth and sustainability in Jamaica’s agricultural sector. “If we are going to chart a new course for the agricultural sector, we must begin with a plan with a sufficiently long-term horizon,” Mr. Shaw said...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, has reported that there was growth in seven subsectors in agriculture in 2017, when compared to their production in 2016. These subsectors are corn, plantain, banana, pineapple, dasheen, coconut and milk. Mr. Shaw made the announcement during his presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 1). “Notwithstanding an...

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, is encouraging local horticulturalists to take advantage of the commercial opportunities in the international market. “We need to take that step and seek to isolate a number of our flowers that are unique to Jamaica and turn them into an industrial export commodity, so that we can create jobs and...

Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says idle lands can be used to produce crops, particularly for processing, to satisfy local and export demands. The Minister points out that this activity will contribute to the country’s food security and create employment for many young persons. “This can be part of our path towards wealth creation,” he said,...