After an extremely difficult year in which the economies of its 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) contracted by 12.8% on average due to the onset of Covid-19, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.8% in 2021. However, this projection, made in Part 1 of CDB’s Regional Report: 2020 Review and 2021...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that Construction and Mining and Quarrying grew by an estimated 6.2 per cent and six per cent, respectively, for the October to December 2020 quarter. They were the only subsectors recording growth in the goods producing industry, which PIOJ Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, said declined by an estimated 0.6 per cent....

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says there are “positive signs” regarding the PIOJ’s projection for the country to record economic growth of between four to six per cent during the 2021/22 fiscal year. Speaking during the PIOJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Tuesday (February 23), Dr. Henry said this is in the wake of...

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to explore the various options of selling their products and services online, to help grow their businesses. Speaking recently at a Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) ‘Virtual Biz Zone’ session, under the theme 'Jamaica! Start Selling Online’, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fygaro, Ariel Rochwerger, said that business operators can utilise...

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says the central bank continues to be successful in maintaining inflation within the  4-6 per cent target range. Speaking at the Bank’s digital quarterly briefing on Thursday (February 19), Mr. Byles said that the inflation outturn for the 36-month period, ending January 2021, was below six per cent on 34 occasions or 94...

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, says the country is beginning to show signs of incremental improvement in economic activity. He cited the relatively buoyant foreign exchange market inflows, adequate reserves, a sustainable balance of payments position, and the containment of inflation within the Bank’s 4-6 per cent target range, as evidence of the progress being made. He said...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with responsibility for Works, Hon. C. Everald Warmington, has outlined some roads that are earmarked for upgrade and improvement, under the new Special Infrastructure Programme. In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Warmington explained the rationale for the programme. “We have developed a programme to look at some...