JAIF an Opportunity for Investors, Entrepreneurs and Policymakers to Collaborate

The Jamaica Agribusiness Investment Forum (JAIF) 2025, slated for the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, from September 17 to 19, is an opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers to come together, collaborate, and “drive forward a shared mission of prosperity and resilience”.

This was noted by Deputy Chairman of the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC), Trisha Williams-Singh, at the recent media launch for the event, held at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew.

She argued that agriculture, when approached with innovation and inclusivity, can be a powerful driver of sustainable development, both for “our communities and the global market”.

“It is also an opportunity to present investment-ready projects, explore new models of agri-financing, and introduce platforms for knowledge exchange that can unlock the next phase of Jamaica’s agri-development. I encourage each of you to see your involvement as part of something bigger, which is a movement towards a more dynamic, competitive, and sustainable agribusiness sector,” she told stakeholders in attendance.

The Deputy Chairman added that together, stakeholders have the power to shape a future where Jamaican agriculture not only meets the needs of the population but competes on the world stage.

The forum will be held under the theme ‘Sustainable Agri-Business: Global Reach, Local Impact’, with a mission to boost Agri-investments and promote sustainable agricultural transformation, through strategic partnerships with agencies such as Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM), Jamaica Broilers Group, the Coconut Industry Board, Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), and the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA).

It is expected that the event will attract more than 400 in-person attendees, including local and international investors, agri-entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners, and industry leaders.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of AIC, Vivion Scully, said the forum is a strategic step towards, and a move to redefine “how we grow, how we produce, and how we compete globally, as we are innovating, we are leading, and we are inviting the world to invest in our future”.

“Through this forum, we will showcase how agriculture can be a serious engine for economic transformation by unlocking value from our land, our people and, of course, our partnerships, as we bring together many different stakeholders here to initiate these partnerships. We’re here to unlock a full potential of Jamaican agriculture, and that means transforming how we farm, how we process, how we invest, and turning Jamaica into a globally competitive hub for agribusiness,” the CEO added.

Mr. Scully said the three-day event will present panel discussions on global markets and innovation, exhibits featuring cutting-edge equipment and agri-technologies, and interactive workshops covering export readiness, value-added production, and climate-smart techniques.

“Local farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and innovators will pitch directly to investors. These aren’t just ideas, they are investment-ready ventures with land, plans, and ROI (Return on Investment) potential, and the DBJ will also provide financing support, mentoring, and access to key services that make investments even more attractive and viable,” he explained.

Mr. Scully said the identified lands are strategically located and fully supported for small, medium, and large-scale ventures.

“We have the players here in those sectors, and more, with special focus on both youth and women. For agri-processing, we are enabling farmers to capture more value from their produce, so hence all the cold storage, all the processing facilities, we are going to be presenting those at the forum,” he informed.

“Agri-technology from drones, smart irrigation, climate-smart solutions to mechanisation, these are going to be expounded on at the forum; also finance and equipment access, insurance, micro-loans, and support for more mechanisation on the farms,” the CEO said.

The JAIF is a key initiative designed to advance food security, accelerate agribusiness development, champion climate-smart technologies, and expand export opportunities for Jamaica’s vital agricultural produce, as well as the forging of strategic partnerships, and promoting live investment pitches, to enhance the new era of agricultural transformation. 

Agro-Investment Corporation is an agricultural investment facilitation, advisory and management company. It functions as the business facilitation department within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, with a focus on agricultural investment promotion and facilitation, project development and market development.

It also covers the investment chain from the identification of opportunities through feasibility studies, due diligence and business planning to fundraising, project management, long-term business performance monitoring and technical support.