Minister Hill Optimistic about Newport West Redevelopment

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill is expressing confidence that Newport West will become a world class logistics facility and a competitive resilient economic zone.

Presenting the Government’s position at recent meeting with a delegation from the European Union (EU) Investment Bank, and other officials, the Minister states that the EU is prepared to provide financing that will enable port expansion and efficiency.

The EU has also indicated an interest in supporting the objective to craft a comprehensive logistics hub plan for several economic zones already under consideration in Kingston.

“We are looking at five, focusing on the Caymanas, and those studies will assist us with the significant investment in what we are calling the Kingston climate port,” the Minister states.

He was addressing a stakeholders forum held recently at the Kingston Wharves Limited Corporate Offices.

The recent discussions with the group from the EU, focused on the potential of Jamaica attracting investments in its emerging logistic hub, with a goal to boosting the country’s competitiveness, increasing its maritime connectivity, and establishing greater linkages with global partners, by exploring business opportunities for the rising logistic hub.

Minister Hill says the EU will be injecting significant investment in the changing of the country’s ports to become climate centred, as the country moves towards becoming a logistic hub for the Caribbean, and the wider field.

“It has to be green, and more ships are going to be climate friendly and using green energy. If we are not geared to doing that in the country’s main port, ships will bypass the facility, hence the welcoming of the EU financial partnership,” the Minister tells his audience.

“We are working on many fronts to make sure that we get the kind of investments that enhance the port,” he adds.

As a first step, the EU through its Global Gateway Agenda, is offering financial support to redevelop the infrastructure in Newport West, and the wider area, so that it can become a top-notch-class logistic facility.

It also involves plans to resolve the regular flooding which occurs from Tinson Pen to Marcus Garvey Drive and Newport West, which would contribute to reducing the significant direct and indirect operating costs and put the business community in a position to attract public and private investments.

Director with the EU, Felix Fernandez Shaw says the block is working with its partners in Jamaica for its digital transition, and adaptation to climate change, through the production of greener alternative energy.

“What we see is efficiency, and our role is not only to finance the studies, but initiatives of the project that will remove barriers, and make everybody come and invest in the project, and that’s what we want to do,” Mr. Shaw states.

While in Jamaica, the EU delegation participated in numerous activities such as a tour of the German Ship Repair (GSRJ) Jamaica facility at Harbour Head, in Kingston.

The itinerary also included visits to both Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) and Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), including the KWL Global Auto Logistics Centre.