Garmex Freezone to be Modified to Facilitate Logistics Activities

The Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) will spend $120 million this year to retrofit the Garmex Freezone located on Marcus Drive, in Kingston.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says given its proximity to the port, the Garmex Freezone will be retrofitted into a world class industrial complex, to accommodate logistics and industrial clusters.

The Minister made the announcement during his 2014/2015 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 21.

Mr. Hylton said he is looking forward to opening this new facility that will be a marquee site for the Jamaica Logistics Hub initiative.

He noted that as Jamaica looks towards a logistics-centred economy, the mandate of the Factories Corporation is to plan and deliver industrial and commercial space solutions for new projects.

“We are taking steps to build out the logistics – centred economy,” he said.

These measures also include building national dialogue and a narrative around Jamaica’s place in the global logistics network.

The Minister reported growing public interest in the Logistics 101 course organised by his Ministry, and the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI).

The course has so far been delivered free of cost to over 16,000 participants; has been streamed live on the Internet; made available on YouTube; and distributed to schools and libraries.

He informed of stronger collaboration among academic institutions, working with the Logistics Hub Education and Training Working Group to get the workforce ‘hub-ready’.

Minister Hylton noted that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has now approved a CAPE curriculum on logistics. To prepare teachers, the CMI is offering a post-graduate diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, beginning this summer.

He reported that professional bodies and practitioners, including medical doctors and other health professionals, are now taking steps to certify themselves in order to deliver cross-border services.

“This is further evidence of the recognition, locally and internationally, of the value of Jamaica becoming a logistics-centred economy,” Minister Hylton said.