The level of confidence in the economy by both businesses and consumers continued to rise in the fourth quarter of 2018. The consumer confidence index was 175.5 points compared to the 172.6 points in the third quarter, while the business confidence index increased to 147 points. This was disclosed at a press conference held on January 22 at the Jamaica...

President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA), Metry Seaga, says the upcoming Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE) will be another opportunity for local businesses to promote their goods and services to an international audience. Slated for the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, from May 30 to June 1, Mr. Seaga said the trade show will...

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) will be pushing to capitalise on business opportunities that are available in the international market, says the entity’s President, Metry Seaga. “We are surrounded by an abundance of opportunities for Jamaican exports,” he said. “The United Kingdom’s (UK) import market grew by one per cent in 2017, which amounted to US$4.9 billion, while...

The Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP) has been merged with the National Land Agency (NLA). Effective Monday, January 14, LAMP matters were being processed from 8 Ardenne Road, Kingston 10. This comes after Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement of the merger of both entities in his contribution to the 2018/19 Budget Debate in March...

The economic and trade relationship between Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China is very active, with some 15 Chinese companies operating in Jamaica with cumulative investments of US$2 billion. This was disclosed by Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Fan Jianghong, during a news conference regarding the sports cooperation programme...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with responsibility for the Environment, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says two Ministerial Orders have been signed to reinforce the ban on some single-use plastics on January 1, 2019. “Two Ministerial Orders have been gazetted, one under the Trade Act and the other under the Natural Resources and Conservation Authority...

I wish to start by thanking members of the media who have made themselves available this morning. We appreciate your interest in this issue and thank you for partnering with us to give the public important information on this matter. January 1st, 2019 represents an important date in Jamaica’s fight against environmental degradation, and against the scourge of plastic pollution...