Hot pepper farmers and other stakeholders who took part in pest surveillance training are hailing the sessions as useful and beneficial to their farming practices. A total of 169 farmers, input suppliers and nursery operators benefited from guidance to reduce the prevalence of pests in hot pepper cultivation under the Improving the Phytosanitary Food Safety and Market Access Opportunities along...

The Scientific Research Council (SRC) has committed its support to student entrepreneurs of the Papine High School in St. Andrew, following their call for approval of their personal-care products. Executive Director of the SRC, Dr. Charah Watson, said assistance will be given to ensure that the students are successful in their shampoo and lotion project and any future enterprise that...

More than $359 million has been earmarked to continue Global Services Skills (GSS) Project implementation during fiscal year 2024/25. The Project aims to promote the Global Services Sector’s (GSS) growth in Jamaica, particularly in higher value-added segments. It specifically intends to provide the sector with better skilled workers and increase Jamaica’s institutional capacity to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and...

Local agro-processors and food and beverage manufacturers are being encouraged to explore the many prospects for exporting Jamaican food products. “We continue to see demand for ready to eat products, not just from our Diaspora members, but also from mainstream consumers,” said Agri-Business Exports Acting Manager, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Shanique Edwards. “Export offers significant opportunities for local companies in...

The Government will be spending $717 million on initiatives aimed at strengthening the business environment, to enhance private-sector investment. The funding is earmarked under the Jamaica Business Environment Reforms Project, which is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). As contained...

Representatives from the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector convened at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on February 20 to actively engage in a consultation on updating the National Entrepreneurship Policy. The policy, which was first developed in 2013 and later revised in 2018, was designed to address issues facing Jamaica’s MSME sector. The revised policy was...

The inaugural staging of the ELEVATE Procurement Conference is slated for April 23 to 25 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in St. James. An initiative of the Office of Public Procurement Policy in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, ELEVATE aims to create and advance a new procurement paradigm that responds to client needs and global changes....