PM Keen To Capitalise on the Maritime and Logistics Sector
By: , January 14, 2022
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (third left), breaks ground at the unveiling of the Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) US$60-million investment in logistics and port development, at Port Bustamante, on Wednesday (January 12). Sharing in the occasion (from left) are President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Professor Gordon Shirley; Chief Executive Officer for KWL, Mark Williams; Chairman of the company, Jeffrey Hall; Group Financial Officer, Clover Moodie, and Deputy Chairman of KWL, Grantley Stephenson.The Full Story
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says plans are advanced to increase security at the ports and to facilitate growth of the maritime and logistics sector.
The Prime Minister was delivering the keynote address at the unveiling of the Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) US$60-million investment in logistics and port infrastructural development on Wednesday (January 12), at Port Bustamante. He noted that the Government has spearheaded several initiatives to “reassert” Jamaica in the industry.
“The new customs regulations are at an advanced stage of implementation; these will facilitate an environment that will reduce unnecessary bureaucratic [delays] and [accelerate] the growth of the logistics sector, and the work to transform the security systems at the terminals, which will enhance our ability to detect contraband,” the PM said.
Mr. Holness told his audience that one of the most fundamental goals of his Administration is to achieve economic growth and “well-paying jobs” for the population, by focusing on areas where there are critical resources and pre-existing infrastructure, to build and “generate genuinely competitive sectors of our economy”.
“Our ideal location, quality natural harbours, and already existing infrastructure, position the port and the maritime sector as one of the most attractive areas for further development in pursuit of economic growth and job creation,” he said, adding that the key berths in all the terminals have been rebuilt, while equipment has been modernised, and new advanced operating systems have also been added to the port.
The investment, Mr. Holness said, is ensuring that “this very important sector returns our competitiveness”, as “specific and instrumental policy” needs to be crafted to “deal with the ocean economy and integrate it with the green economy”.
“We have a maritime space that is 24 times our land mass, and in that maritime space are significant assets, which we will use in a wise way, and sustainable way,” the PM said. He also stated that the supporting government agencies are working “collaboratively” with the private sector to make Kingston a “location of choice” for logistics.