President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, says the country performed creditably in attracting $64 billion (US$551 million) in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) during 2014, despite this figure being a seven per cent decline over 2013 inflows. The fall in the figure, contained in the United Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 2015 World Investment Report (WIR15), is largely...

Finance and Planning Minister, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, says that considerable progress has been made under the Economic Reform Programme (ERP) and the Government is committed to ensuring that those gains are protected and sustained. Dr. Phillips was speaking in a national broadcast on Tuesday (June 16) on the progress of the ERP and the status of the economy. He...

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Richard Powell, is reaffirming his company’s commitment to support Jamaica’s development, particularly the social sector. Mr. Powell, who delivered brief remarks during a VMBS-sponsored power breakfast at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort, in Montego Bay, St. James, on June 16, said the financial institution takes its corporate responsibilities...

Good evening... Two years ago, we embarked on Jamaica’s Economic Reform Programme supported by a four year Extended Fund facility with the International Monetary Fund. Over the two years, we have had seven quarterly reviews and this week the International Monetary Fund approved our successful completion of the eighth review. In the process of successfully passing these tests, we have...

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the eighth review of Jamaica’s economic performance under a program supported by a four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of SDR 615.38 million (about US$932.3 million at the time of approval). The completion of the review enables the disbursement of SDR 28.32 million (about US$39.8 million). The four-year EFF arrangement...

Local entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take advantage of new and emerging opportunities in the gaming industry. Representatives from the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), who were guests at a recent JIS Think Tank, said several opportunities now exist in the industry,  as technology continues to change the face of gaming. These business prospects will be highlighted at the...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Colin Bullock, says  greater collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial in ensuring that the country continues to make progress towards achieving key targets in areas of national development under Vision 2030 Jamaica. He said all interests, including private sector, civil society and international development partners, must continue to participate in the...