The Government is today (July 12) hosting a high-level seminar with international experts and policymakers to discuss best practices for economic growth and debt management. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the opening session at Jamaica House, said he is looking forward to learning from the examples, anecdotes and the sharing of experiences from the guests. He said...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says the Ministry will be making it a lot easier for persons to do business by creating a “one-stop shop” to cut bureaucracy. Addressing the recent 55th anniversary luncheon of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Mr. Vaz said the...

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has endorsed the establishment of the Government’s Economic Growth Council. The Council, chaired by businessman, Michael Lee-Chin, will advise the Government on a framework of proposed initiatives that are expected to yield economic growth. Caribbean Country General Manager for the IDB, Therese Turner-Jones, describes it as a step in the right direction, and that “creating...

The Government has officially launched its Economic Growth Council, which will be chaired by businessman, Michael Lee-Chin. The Council is set up to advise the Government on a framework of proposed initiatives along with sub-initiatives that are expected to yield economic growth. It will comprise no more than 12 members, both from the private and public sectors,  and will make...

The Government has given an undertaking to engage micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in a partnership to further spur the administration’s programme of economic growth and job creation. Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Government is keen on forging this partnership, as it regards MSMEs “as engines of growth.” He pointed out that they are...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government remains focused on developing sound economic growth policies aimed at reducing Jamaica’s dependence on borrowed funds. While acknowledging that “we still borrow”, he argues that this is being done more responsibly. Mr. Holness further says that the administration is also endeavouring to reduce Jamaica’s debt “as much...and as rapidly as...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has reported that the country recorded an estimated growth of 0.8 per cent for the 2015 calendar year. Director General, Colin Bullock, in a quarterly economic press briefing at the PIOJ offices on March 3, told media personnel  that this growth of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents an improvement of performance over the...