In light of evolving global trade dynamics and recent trade tensions involving the United States (US), Jamaican businesses are being strongly encouraged to proactively diversify their markets, exploring both regional and international opportunities. Senior Director, Regulations, Policy, Monitoring and Enforcement at the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), Ainsley Brown, has highlighted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a particularly...

As the filing period for the 2024 tax season approaches, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) will once again partner to provide essential guidance to entrepreneurs and business owners through their annual ‘Tax Talk’ sessions. The tax season runs from January to December, while the corresponding filing period begins in March the following year. The...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is taking its Digital Jamaica Training initiative beyond urban centres into rural communities. This is intended to ensure that entrepreneurs islandwide benefit from provisions focused on digitisation, digitalisation and digital transformation. The move aligns with Jamaica’s national digital plan, which aims to bridge the digital divide, enhance education access and drive technological innovation in...

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...