Category Archives: News

Private investors are being invited by the Government to capitalise on the opportunities available in the local and global fisheries markets. Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the economy could benefit more from the global fishing industry if local investors go after a larger slice of the US$136-billion industry. TheContinue reading “Investors Urged to Make Use of Opportunities in Fishing Industry”

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government is focused on expanding the agricultural sector in order to reduce food imports and grow the economy. “In setting our goals for growth and prosperity, we recognize that we can never really grow and be the masters of our own destiny unlessContinue reading “Gov’t Focused on Growing Agriculture”

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J. C. Hutchinson has endorsed the Latin American Small Ruminants Programme and the Caribbean Small Ruminants Capacity Building Programme launched in St. Elizabeth. The programmes seek to improve the stock of sheep and goat in the country, while training persons in animalContinue reading “Programme Launched to Help Boost Jamaica’s Livestock”

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will be working to ensure that the local banana industry returns to more prosperous days. Chief Technical Director (CTD) in charge of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, says the Ministry will be collaborating with the Banana Board to achieve this objective. According to Mr. Spence, “the successfulContinue reading “Ministry Seeks to Revive Banana Industry”

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”