Jamaica Well Placed to Develop Services Industry – WTO Director General

World Trade Organization (WTO), Director General, Ambassador Roberto de Azevêdo, says Jamaica is well placed to develop the services sector which, he notes, is an area that can provide sustained economic growth.

Trade in services remains an important economic activity for Jamaica and is a priority for the country in the Doha Round negotiations.

The services industry in Jamaica continues to reflect the highest annual contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 79.4 per cent in 2014.

“I think it’s clearly an area where Jamaica is well placed to develop. I went to the ports (Monday)…and was very impressed with the work that is being done there. There is a lot of transshipment (happening). That is value-added services that Jamaica can profit from, given its geographic situation and also the focus and strategy it is developing in that area,” he said.

The Director General was speaking with JIS News following round-table discussions with several Government Ministers at Jamaica House in Kingston on Tuesday (January 19).

They included Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill; Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips; National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting; Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson.

The panelists discussed a wide range of topics including: the WTO’s benefit to small states, national security issues, among other things.