Jamaicans Urged to Get Climate Smart

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, is encouraging Jamaican businesses and households to invest in green technologies.

He said that the Ministry stands ready to provide the relevant information and guidance to help companies and individuals become climate smart.

“We are prepared to offer support, working through our partners, stakeholders and agencies to encourage initiatives that will create the most lasting results, as Jamaica continues to strengthen its position as a green inclusive and sustainable economy,” he said.

“The quality of investments that the country attracts and secures will depend largely on the extent to which we can inspire confidence that Jamaica is indeed the country of choice for doing green and climate-clean business,” he added.

Senator Hill was addressing the CanCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on October 20.

The High Commission of Canada in Jamaica hosted the high-level business initiative, which targeted cleantech and associated infrastructure projects in Jamaica.

It included a matchmaking business-2-business (B2B) Forum, where seven Canadian companies were introduced to potential local business partners and/or counterparts, with a view to pursuing business prospects in the island.

The global cleantech market is projected to exceed roughly $3.3 trillion by 2022, which is about two per cent of anticipated global gross domestic product (GDP).

Senator Hill said that investment in climate-smart technologies and renewable energy projects will assist, over time, in reducing the country’s fossil-fuel bill.

“We imported, last year, US$5.9 billion worth of goods and services. We exported US$1.4 billion; that’s a trade gap of US$4.5 billion. We spent on import for fossil fuel US$2 billion. We have to export more and find ways to reduce that,” he said.

Senator Hill said that the summit provides an avenue for research and development in important areas, including solar and wind.

He noted that the Government continues to push legislation, reforms and programmes to ensure climate smart practices become fomented across industries and among the broader national citizenry.

“For instance, the EXIM bank has made available an energy loan to help companies in agri-business retrofit their operations specifically accommodating energy efficient fixtures, energy conservation and alternate energy projects,” he pointed out.

High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, Her Excellency, Emina Tudakovic, said that the countries continue to benefit from a rich and diverse relationship.

“The enduring bonds between the two countries remain strong, as do the long-lasting bilateral trade linkages, membership in regional and international institutions as well as the countless and ongoing people-to-people ties,” she said.