Category Archives: News

The Government remains committed to supporting entrepreneurship and simplifying the process of starting a business. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, speaking at an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development workshop, held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on June 22, said the Government remains committed to supporting the growth and developmentContinue reading “Government Committed to Entrepreneurship”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Thematic Working Group (TWG). The Group will serve as the main mechanism nationally for coordinating and monitoring MSME-related strategies and actions, particularly those falling under the Vision 2030 Jamaica – National DevelopmentContinue reading “MSME Thematic Working Group Launched”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley, is calling for more local medical laboratories to become accredited. “We want you as consumers to agitate so that your medical practitioners…will request medical tests from accredited laboratories,” she said. Ms. Shirley was addressing the World Accreditation Day dinner and awardsContinue reading “JANAAC calls for more Medical Labs to be Accredited”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, has signaled the Government’s intention to move from a focus on mere primary production in agriculture to a much greater focus on agro-industries, as a critical plank in the country’s growth and job creation thrust. Making his contribution to the sectoral presentation in Parliament onContinue reading “Greater Focus on Agro-Industries”

The Government is seeking to identify mined out bauxite lands ideally suited for farming and the provision of irrigation water. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says this among of initiatives being undertaken to assist farmers in further boosting crop production. “We are going to beContinue reading “Government Identifying Lands for Farming”

Some 30 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) are to benefit from grant funding to commercialise their projects under the Innovation Grant from New Ideas to Entrepreneurship (IGNITE) Programme. “New businesses will be targeted under this pilot project, which will last for two years,” said Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda.Continue reading “Gov’t Ignites 30 MSMEs”

Jamaica is moving to strengthen co-operation with Cuba on key industries, such as agriculture and manufacturing, which can benefit both nations. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, said Jamaica is seeking to learn from the experience of Cuba, which “has done remarkably well with limited resources.” He noted as well thatContinue reading “JAMAICA STRENGTHENING CO-OPERATION WITH CUBA”

The draft Microcredit Bill, which aims to create an authority to regulate micro financing firms, is in an advanced state. This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, at a Microfinance Institutions meeting, held at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on May 18. He noted that the legislation willContinue reading “MICROCREDIT BILL FAR ADVANCED”

As part of the efforts to foster greater innovation and participation from young Jamaicans, the Government is now seeking to widen the entrepreneurship curriculum in schools. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, speaking at the launch of Scotiabank’s 2016 Vision Achiever Programme at the Scotia Group Financial Centre in Kingston, onContinue reading “ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM TO BE BROADENED”

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”