Author Archives: donovan.saunches

Several initiatives geared towards development of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector are being pursued across government during 2016/17. The disclosure was made by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) 9th Annual Small Business Expo on MayContinue reading “Government Committed to MSME Development”

The cess on local conch exports is to be reduced this year from US 75 cents per pound, to US 50 cents per pound. The announcement was made on Friday, May 6 by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, following a tour of Rainforest Seafoods’ 30,000 square foot, state-of-the-art processing plant,Continue reading “Government to Reduce Cess on Conch”

Flood-Affected Farmers to Get Assistance As of the week beginning May 9th, the Government will roll out a programme of assistance for farmers whose crops were recently destroyed by floods, caused by heavy rains in Portland and St. Thomas. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, whoContinue reading “Flood-Affected Farmers to Get Assistance”

Young Jamaicans are being encouraged to take up careers in agriculture and to assist in finding solutions to challenges in the sector. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, delivering the keynote address at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs’ 2016 National Achievement Expo at the Denbigh Showground, May Pen, Clarendon, on April 29,Continue reading “Youth Urged To Seek Careers in Agriculture”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has signalled Jamaica’s dissatisfaction with the current oil pricing systems being used by Trinidad & Tobago (T&T). The Minister did so while in Georgetown, Guyana attending the 42nd Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the 61st Special COTED MeetingContinue reading “Minister Samuda Calls for New Approach to T&T Oil Pricing and Subsidies”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is urging local manufacturers to look towards overseas markets. Speaking at Seprod’s (International Biscuits Limited) unveiling of its J$285 million state-of-the-art oven and oil spray machine at its Valentine Drive factory in Kingston on April 27th, Minister Samuda noted the level of expansion taking placeContinue reading “Look to Overseas Markets – Industry Minister”

The agricultural sector is expected to realize significant growth this year, with a recovery from the harsh drought conditions of the past year. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, says unless there is a repeat of similar conditions, the onset of hurricane or other prohibitive actors, “we are going to see realContinue reading “AGRICULTURE POISED FOR GROWTH THIS YEAR”

Efforts are now underway by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries to complete repairs at the Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, addressing a press conference at his New Kingston offices recently, said the Government-owned Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings will temporarilyContinue reading “REPAIRS AT LONG POND SUGAR FACTORY UNDERWAY”

Processing machines, irrigation systems for small farmers, windmills and greenhouses are among a wide range of equipment identified as possible areas of cooperation and technical assistance between Cuba and Jamaica by the Hon J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. Minister Hutchinson made these comments while speaking atContinue reading “Hutchinson Seeks Increased Agricultural Cooperation between Cuba and Jamaica”

Hon. Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, yesterday (April 21) met with Ms. Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), in the margins of the 42nd Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which is currently underway this week (April 21-22) in Georgetown, Guyana. AmongContinue reading “Industry Minister Discusses SME Competitiveness with ITC Executive Director”