Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, is encouraging banks to respond to the reduction in interest rates by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), by lowering their interest rates. Last August, the Central Bank reduced its benchmark policy rate by 25 basis points, bringing the rate from seven per cent to 6.75 per cent per annum....

Shoppers are being encouraged to share receipts for purchases with the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) as the entity intensifies efforts to ensure that vendors comply with the Consumer Protection Act. “Fax them to us, e-mail them to us, post them online; send us your receipts,” said Director of Research at the CAC, Racquel White, in an interview with JIS News....

Jamaica is the first Caribbean country to use Smart Traps in the surveillance and monitoring of insects that could impact local crops. First installed in November last year, the acquisition of 125 Smart Traps was done through a partnership between the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspection (PQPI) Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture,...

The HEART/NSTA Trust has provided $21.9 million in grant assistance to entrepreneurs during the 2024/25 financial year. Of the total, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) received $8.4 million, while $13.4 million went towards supporting trainee start-ups. “This ensures sustained financial support to empower entrepreneurs,” said Executive Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton. She was addressing the opening...

More than 1,200 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have benefited from the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s MSME Business Roadshow, to date. Launched in 2023 in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the roadshow initiative aims to equip MSME owners across the island with the tools to grow their businesses and enter the export market. This is...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is encouraging large corporations to play an integral role in strengthening the country’s business ecosystem by mentoring micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). As Jamaica’s premier business development support agency, the JBDC provides a comprehensive range of services, including advisory support, training and access to market information. However, mentorship presents an unparalleled advantage, offering...

More than 70 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from St. Catherine benefited from a range of services to improve and grow their operations. The services were provided at the MSME Business Roadshow held on Thursday (January 16) at the Twickenham Park Church of the Open Bible in the parish. It was the first event held for the year under...