Jamaica’s import expenditure for the first six months of 2024, between January and June, totalled US$3.68 billion. This represents a 1.5 per cent decline over the US$3.74-billion spend for the corresponding period in 2023. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) indicated in a bulletin on Wednesday (October 30) that the decrease was largely attributable to lower imports of ‘Raw Materials/Intermediate...

Operators of medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to take advantage of EXIM Bank’s Energy Loan to reduce operating costs and improve their bottom line. Introduced in 2022, the Energy Loan is tailored for MSMEs within the productive sector, enabling them to access renewable energy solutions to power their businesses. Speaking with JIS News, Acting Chief Executive...

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress Jamaica Spices (JaSPICE) Project is making significant strides in addressing critical issues that will drive local production of ginger, turmeric and pimento. The project, being implemented over the next five years, is geared towards revitalising the spice sector in Jamaica to meet existing export and domestic demands. Research and Development Specialist...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, has congratulated the management and staff of the Spice Isle Imaging Centre Inc., in Grenada, for achieving ISO 15189:2012 accreditation. In his keynote address at the recent virtual ceremony, Senator Hill commended the collective efforts of the Spice Isle Imaging team, noting that “it’s always a team effort, so...

Accreditation of Grenada’s Spice Isle Imaging Centre Inc. to the ISO 15189:2012 standard by JANAAC Global Accreditation is being hailed by the Managing Director of the Grenada-based medical laboratory, Father Gerard Paul. He said that being accredited to First-World standards by the Jamaican entity is “phenomenal”. “We are not accredited by an English, British, American, or European agency but we...

The JANAAC Global Accreditation remains dedicated to facilitating a streamlined approach, ensuring that organisations seeking accreditation can efficiently navigate the journey towards compliance with various international standards. Providing details on the accreditation process, Senior Director, Accreditation, Training and Quality Management at JANAAC, Dr. Yvette Castell, said that it begins with a client inquiry, after which JANAAC provides a comprehensive accreditation...

Copyright and Related Rights Manager at the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Vivian Rose, is urging Creatives across Jamaica to improve their understanding of copyright and related rights to protect their valuable intellectual creations. During a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, he advised that while copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of a work, knowledge is the...