A total of $6 million will be disbursed under the Rio Tinto Alcan Legacy Fund scholarship and bursary programme to support education-related expenses for a new cohort of agricultural students, soon to be announced for the 2025/26 academic year. This was disclosed by Business and Entrepreneurship Development Manager, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Amanda McKenzie. “For this year, we had 217 applications....

Entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing, health, agriculture, and the creative industries now have access to up to $30 million in collateral-free financing through the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) ORBIT Loan Programme. Managing Director, Dr. David Lowe, says the $2-billion financing product, launched this week, was developed in collaboration with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Jamaica Manufacturers and...

With the growing call for Jamaican businesses to expand into the export market, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) has underscored the importance of data protection as a critical driver of global competitiveness for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). In response, the JBDC recently hosted a two-day workshop under the theme ‘Data Privacy: A Key to Going Global’, which...

The Government has been making significant improvements to the quality of education across primary and secondary schools, through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy that includes infrastructure upgrades, targeted learning interventions, digital tools, and training. Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, says the National Coding Curriculum has been introduced alongside new digital learning...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Aubyn Hill, has reaffirmed that Jamaica remains a top destination for doing business, citing the Government’s expanded support for investors, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). He noted that thousands of MSMEs and individuals have been engaged through the Ministry’s business roadshow series, which connect entrepreneurs with various portfolio agencies. Since...

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has reaffirmed its commitment to revolutionising public healthcare in Jamaica with strategic investments in specialised medical services and infrastructure. One of the latest initiatives, the proposed establishment of a state-of-the-art Nephrology Centre of Excellence at St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, is set to transform care for patients suffering from kidney disease...

In 2024, the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) conducted 4,870 site inspections, up from 4,550 in 2023. This represents a seven per cent increase and is attributed to intensified monitoring of products at each site inspected. These details are contained in the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) 2024, an annual publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)....