Food creatives and entrepreneurs are being encouraged to use the period of slowdown in business due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) as an opportunity to innovate and expand their services and brand. Chef and owner of Moveable Feast Caterers, Michele Williams, said that “as people who are passionate about food... now is the time to look within ourselves and find what...

Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to conduct market research in order to improve their products and services and increase sales. “It is important for small businesses to use market research. It can be used to determine how a product may be marketed, why persons may purchase a product or how often they could purchase the product,” said Chief Executive Officer of...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government will, in short order, announce the way forward regarding the reopening of restaurants. This follows the completion of health and safety protocols to govern the operation of these establishments as the country resumes economic activities. “The COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force has done significant work on how restaurants should reopen....

The EX-IM Bank will be disbursing at least $8.1 billion in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) this fiscal year. This is an increase over the $6 billion in financing to the MSME sector for 2019/2020. Minister of Industry Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, said that the increased support “is particularly within the context of the...

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has developed a National Five-Year Manufacturing Growth Strategy for Jamaica, aimed at achieving $81 billion per annum in manufacturing output by 2025. “This translates to an approximate annual average growth rate of three per cent over the five-year period,” said Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw. He was making his contribution to the...

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) is reporting that members are having success on the local and export market since the COVID-9 outbreak in March. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, said based on a report from the JMEA, listing some 20 Jamaican companies, the country has been able to replace some imported products, such...

As at May 31, 2020, the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) had received 705 applications for licences. This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, during his contribution to the 2020/21 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 16. “To date, 63 licences have been issued, 23 are at the granted stage, and...