The Development Bank of Jamaica will be undertaking a five-year project aimed at facilitating sustainable and robust growth among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups. The initiative, dubbed ‘Boosting Innovation in Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE)’ will be launched during the new financial year. As stated in the 2020/21 Jamaica Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Jamaica Special Economic Zones Authority (JSEZA), Dr. Eric Deans, says the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are poised to benefit from additional multimillion-dollar foreign investments that will serve to further boost the economy. Noting that Jamaica’s investment climate is “very attractive right now”, he cited significant interest from the United States (US), United Kingdom...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting gains under the country’s long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, made the disclosure while reporting on the 2018 targets during the PIOJ’s recent quarterly briefing at the Institute’s head office in New Kingston. Vision 2030 Jamaica aims to reposition the island to achieve developed country...

Senior Director of Business Partner and Support Services at the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), Licia Grant, says the Authority continues to implement innovative strategies in order to ensure that companies within the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) can remain competitive and operate more efficiently. “One of the first things that we have in mind is to have our physical...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting estimated fourth quarter calendar year growth of 0.1 per cent, between October and December 2019, relative to the corresponding period in 2018. This, consequent on estimated growth of 1.8 per cent in the services industry, despite a 3.8 per cent contraction in the goods producing industry, Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, has...

Central Bank Governor, Richard Byles, says the prospects for the Jamaican economy continue to be “generally positive”. “Fiscal performance is strong, public debt continues to decline at a steady pace in line with the fiscal responsibility law… we have a sustainable current account of the balance of payments… and our [international] credit ratings have been upgraded,” he said. The Governor...

The Government has set aside a sum of $83.3 million to furnish the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade building, in downtown Kingston, in the new fiscal year. This is outlined in the 2020/21 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is slated to end in March 2021, is being spearheaded by the...