Author Archives: donovan.saunches

Jamaicans looking to go into the essential oil business can now access manufacturing space at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) production incubator off Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. The 2,400-square foot Essential Oil Incubator houses equipment and washing facilities to process raw materials and extract the oil manually or electronically. Other machinery includes anContinue reading “JBDC Opens Essential Oil Incubator”

The Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) and Entrepreneurship Policy, which is up for review in 2023, will provide an opportunity for improvements to ensure greater financial inclusion, particularly for persons with disabilities. The Policy, prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, was last updated in 2018. It creates a framework that offersContinue reading “MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy Review Will Provide Greater Financial Inclusion for Disabled Persons”

Investment Minister Aubyn Hill has expressed confidence that the National Investment Policy (NIP), which is to be tabled in Parliament soon, will create a smooth path for prospective investors to do business in Jamaica and reduce corruption. “The NIP … is designed to make sure we have a clear direction as to what we wantContinue reading “Hill: Nat’l Investment Policy to boost growth, reduce corruption”

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Potential investors in Jamaica’s real estate sector will soon have an easier time identifying opportunities through a soon-to-be-developed land bank. Vice-president in charge of research, advocacy and project implementation at Jampro, Shullette Cox briefly spoke about the initiative during her presentation at the Invest Jamaica 2022 Business Conference on Tuesday.Continue reading “Gov’t putting together land bank for investors”

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon Norman Dunn, says the Government remains committed to facilitating an enabling environment for investments and business development in Jamaica. Speaking at the official opening of Amazing Concrete Finishes’ (ACF) western office in Montego Bay, St James, on Saturday (November 26), Dr.Continue reading “Gov’t Remains Committed to Facilitating an Enabling Business and Investment Environment”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sancia Bennett-Templer, says Jamaica’s business community, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, responded well to the many global challenges caused by COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. “This, coupled with the Government’s strong fiscal policies and financial support to vulnerable sectors, ensured that Jamaica now hasContinue reading “Business Community Responded Well to COVID-19 Challenges – Permanent Secretary”

Sixty micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have benefited from critical support to grow their businesses under the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) 2022 Accelerator programme. The entity partnered with the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) to deliver cohort four of the programme at a cost of $60 million. The intensive training, undertaken over sixContinue reading “60 MSMEs Trained Under JBDC Accelerator Programme”

HE Consumer Affairs Commission’s (CAC) complaints division has for calendar year 2022 handled 1,201 complaint cases to date, of which 906 were resolved. This reflects a resolution rate of 75.43 per cent. In resolving these complaints, the CAC said it was able to secure $28,661,574.77 in compensation/refund on behalf of aggrieved consumers. In response toContinue reading “CAC secures $28m for aggrieved consumers”

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will be launching a creative voices survey later this month to obtain empirical data on the cultural and creative industries (CCI). Deputy Chief Executive Officer (JBDC) Harold Davis said that the survey will help to provide an economic impact assessment of the sector. “It’s important to understand that ifContinue reading “JBDC to measure economic impact of creative, cultural industries”

As Jamaica’s resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic continues to fuel the economy’s gradual recovery from the resulting fallout, more persons are being encouraged to become entrepreneurs. This urging comes from Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, who was speaking during the recent Young Entrepreneurs AssociationContinue reading “More Persons Encouraged to Become Entrepreneurs”