Government of Jamaica

You are here

Industry Minister Wants More MSMEs Listed on Junior Market of Stock Exchange


Article Archives
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
 
January 2025
 

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, addresses Wednesday’s (January 15) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Above Body

 28 Jan 2025    admin   

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, says he wants to see more micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange this year.

He also urged MSMEs to take advantage of the recent amendment of the Income Tax Act, which allows companies to raise up to $750 million during an initial public offering, an increase of $250 million.

Senator Hill, who was addressing Wednesday’s (January 15) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, reasoned that the aim is to build companies that can compete not just in Jamaica but regionally and internationally.

“Two of our biggest companies have big companies in the United States – Grace and Jamaica Broilers Group. More than 50 per cent of Jamaica Broilers Group’s income comes not from Jamaica but from the United States, where they own a lot of companies,” he said.

Senator Hill shared that trade data show that between 1960 and 2021, negative trade balances were recorded in 60 of the 61 years.

A positive trade balance was only recorded in 1966.

“Unless we go and find new markets for our products and services and new markets for investments to come into Jamaica, we’re not going to be the rich country that we have to be,” he said.

“I want the private sector in Jamaica to realise that there are tremendous opportunities, as Jamaica is not the same country it was 10 years ago. Lots of people are making money the right way.

We want more and more Jamaicans to invest and we have 20 agencies in my ministry alone to work with you,” Senator Hill appealed.

For her part, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, said the Government is committed to facilitating further growth of the MSME sector.

“We believe that this will positively impact the MSME sector, as it will broaden the scope for more MSMEs to benefit from the suite of incentives afforded. Further, the increase will provide room for these companies to raise capital and improve productivity. This policy is in recognition of the pivotal role that MSMEs play in driving economic growth while promoting and encouraging local entrepreneurship,” Mrs. Williams said.

The 48 companies currently listed on the Junior Market benefit from a range of tax incentives that include conditional relief from income tax payments, exemption from transfer tax and stamp duty on transfer of shares.

The Junior Market had a market capitalisation of $148.5 billion as at the end of December 2024, having started with $785 million in 2009.

Source: JIS 

The Ministry

Welcome to the official website of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce is described as Jamaica's "Business Ministry." It's mandate is to lead the development of policies that will create growth and jobs, while achieving social inclusion and consumer protection. The Ministry, working its stakeholders is primarily responsible for business policy development, monitoring and evaluation, while giving direction and oversight to a cluster of implementing departments and agencies.

We have, therefore, placed much energy and enthusiasm into the development of this website to provide timely information on the Ministry, our agencies and programmes.

Twitter

MIIC Social

MIIC Facebook MIIC Twitter  MIIC YouTube MIIC Linkedin MIIC TikTok

 

4 St. Lucia Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 968-7116 
Fax: (876) 960-7422 
Email: information@miic.gov.jm

Opening hours: 
Mondays - Thursdays 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 


The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce - https://www.miic.gov.jm