Jamaica generated US$789.2 million in export earnings during the first half of 2021, between January and June. The out-turn represents a 28.3 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has reported. “This was largely due to an increase in the value of exports from the manufacture, and mining and quarrying industries, which...

Attorney Mikhail Jackson (right) of the law firm Livingston Alexander and Levy, which represents footwear brands Nike, Puma and others, discusses the fraudulent features of counterfeit sneakers with Director of the Jamaica Customs Agency’s (JCA) Contraband Enforcement Team, Albert Anderson (second left). Also participating in the discussion (from left) are: Supervisor, Contraband Enforcement Team, JCA, Damaly Thomas; and Deputy Director/...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the unemployment rate for July 2021 was 8.5 per cent. This is 4.1 percentage points lower than the 12.6 per cent out-turn for the corresponding period last year, according to STATIN’s Labour Force Survey for the month. Director General, Carol Coy, says data from the survey show that the number of...

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX) have approved reciprocal agreements of Recognition in keeping with each Exchange’s rules. This move is a continuation of the JSE’s strategic journey of collaboration for growth and development of the region’s capital market. Speaking on matter of mutual recognition, Dr Marlene Street Forrest, Managing Director of the JSE,...

Vulnerable persons and those adversely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are to benefit from a $1-billion national food drive being implemented by the Government. Through the initiative, dubbed the ‘CARE Package Food Drive’, between 200,000 and 250,000 food baskets will be distributed to targeted persons under the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme, which is being...

The second staging of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Wealth Summit is set for Wednesday, October 20, 2021. Digital Financial Inclusion will be the focus of the event. Digital financial inclusion involves the deployment of cost-saving digital means to reach the financially excluded, underserved populations with a range of formal financial services suited to their needs. The...

Approximately 350,000 Jamaicans are expected to benefit from new grants under the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme which is being expanded with a further budgetary allocation of $5.3 billion. Over a period of six months, one-off grants, ranging from $10,000 to $18,000 will be provided for vulnerable persons in six categories at a total cost of...