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Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (second left), listens to Lab Supervisor, Althea Lawson (second right), as she explains the functions of the equipment donated by the European Union (EU), at the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar, at the Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI) in Mandeville, on September 21. Looking on (from left) are Head of Cooperation of the EU, Achim Shaffert, and Acting Director of Research at SIRI, Dr. Maureen Wilson.

Discussions in Progress for Divestment of Sugar Factories

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 27 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, has indicated that ongoing discussions are being held with investors showing interest in the acquisition of certain sugar estates. Speaking at the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar in Mandeville on September 21, Mr. Samuda said he is hoping to close a deal with prospective buyers interested in the Long Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny. “We’re hoping to get into the field to start reaping the cane, so that we do not have the low productivity that we experienced in the crop that has just been...


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Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, looks at equipment at the Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI) in Mandeville, which was donated by the European Union. Occasion was the opening of the Sugar Industry Authority’s (SIA) inaugural post-crop seminar at SIRI on September 21, 2016.

Standard to be Developed for Imported Sugar

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 27 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) is to create a standard to effectively protect the local sugar industry from illegally imported sugar. This disclosure was made by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the opening of a two-day Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) seminar and exposition in Mandeville on September 21. Mr. Samuda said the measure is necessary for the protection of the sugar industry, as imported sugar, sometimes from unknown sources, has made its way on to supermarket shelves across the island. He noted that persons are making “hefty profits...


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Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr. Reginald Budhan (podium) speaking at the Regional Agri-Value Chain Financing Forum held at the Courtleigh Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard on Monday, September 26, 2016. Seated at the head table from left are: Chairperson and Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA) delegation, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson; Project Manager, European Union, Mr. Stephan Cilli and Senior Consultant, Agribusiness, IICA, Mr. Robert Reid.

Acting PS Budhan Calls for Increased MSME Financing

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 27 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Fisheries, Reginald Budhan is calling for an explosion of small business and smallholder activities across the region. He was speaking on September 26 at the opening session of a two-day Regional Agri-Value Chain Forum organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA) and held at Courtleigh Hotel, Kingston. “If we are really serious about facilitating access to credit, then the time has surely come for us to put our money where our hearts are. In plain language, as they say ladies and gentlemen – talk is...


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Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), listens as technical representative for Canadian entity Lambert Peat Moss Inc., Ramon Alvarado (left), provides details on a bag of plant seeds produced by the company, which was on display during a stakeholder seminar at Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine on Tuesday, September 20. The seminar was jointly staged by Lambert Peat and Jamaica Floral Products Limited/Evergrow Garden Centre under the theme ‘High Quality Growing Media at the Root of High Quality Seedling Growth and Crop Production’. Also listening (from 2nd left) are Lambert Peat’s International Sales Manager, Richard De Quesada; and Jamaica Floral Products Limited/Evergrow Garden Centre General Manager, Burrell Scarlett.

Agriculture Minister wants more Youth Involved in Sector

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 22 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
The Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, continues to push for more young people to get involved in the agriculture sector. “We have to get (more) young people working to ensure that we grow the crops we need in sufficient quantities and to also enable us to export. Let’s have an explosion of youthful participation so that we can be assured that the sector will grow,” he said, while speaking at a stakeholders’ seminar at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine on Tuesday, September 20. Describing agriculture as the “cornerstone” that will...


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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), and Programme Director for the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP), Petronia Colley, listen attentively to a presentation at the two-day training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, held at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel, Montego Bay, St. James, on August 29.

Jamaican Producers Benefit from Globalisation – Head of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP)

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 16 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Director of the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP), Petronia Colley, says globalisation and expanding international trade have made it easier for Jamaican producers to find an opening in emerging markets overseas. Ms. Colley, who was speaking at a two-day training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel, St. James, on August 29, said it is important that producers gain better control over production, trade and distribution in order to fully maximise the opportunities that are available. She also emphasised that it is equally important for...


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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left) exchanges greetings with Chief of Mission, United States Agency for International Development Agency (USAID) Jamaica, Maura Barry Boyle (2nd right), just before the start of the opening ceremony for the climate smart agriculture symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on September 13. Others (from second left) are Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan; and Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Kingston, Eric Khant.The two-day symposium, organised by the USAID-funded Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change II (Ja REEACH II) project in collaboration with the Ministry, was held under the theme ‘Growing Agriculture and Incomes in the Face of Climate Change’.

Agro Parks to be Expanded

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 16 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the agro park concept will be expanded across the length and breadth of Jamaica. Currently, there are nine parks in operation. “When I speak of an agro park, I’m speaking of a defined area where all of the facilities can be brought to bear, managed and brought to the assistance of the people who want to do something in a serious way,” he noted. Minister Samuda was addressing the opening ceremony for the climate smart agriculture symposium at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on September 13th. The objective...


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Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dermon Spence, delivers the keynote address on behalf of portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the launch of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Preferred Farmers’ Programme in rural St. Andrew on Thursday, September 8, 2016.

Work Advanced on Legislation for Cess on Imported Coffee

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 16 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, is reporting that work is advanced for the application of a cess on all imported coffee. Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dermon Spence, said that most of the legislative work to facilitate the move has been completed. He was delivering a speech on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the launch of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Preferred Farmers’ Programme, in the rural St. Andrew community on Thursday, September 8th. Mr. Spence said the Government is committed to providing the necessary support for the...


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Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (centre) closely examines fibre optic cable at CB Cabling Technologies’ display booth, while Director of Technical Services at the company, Clarence Blake, explains its use. Occasion was the closing ceremony of the 2016 Scotiabank Vision Achiever Programme held at Scotiabank Corporate Learning Centre in Kingston on August 31, 2016. At right is Vice President for Marketing, Scotiabank Jamaica, Yanique Forbes.

Samuda Calls for Lowering of Interest Rates on MSME Loans

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 16 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, is calling for banks to lower interest rates to single digit, in order to boost production and growth within the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. He cited agriculture as one sector which cannot grow with an interest rate that exceeds four per cent. Minister Samuda noted that 97 per cent of registered taxpayers are to be found within the MSME sector, “but the sector cannot hope to thrive at the pace necessary to get this economy rolling, unless we get to low single-digit interest charges”. He was...


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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addresses training seminar on ‘Farm Enterprise Management’, at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall hotel in Montego Bay, St. James, on August 29.

Minister Emphasises Importance of Agro-Economic Zones

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 05 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the agro-economic zones being created by the Government will enable small farmers to access modern processing facilities. According to the Minister, nothing that the farmers produce should go to waste, and every effort will be made to assist with the efficient production and marketing of their produce. “All produce should be graded for use either as Grade A fresh produce for the high-end market and export, or the lower grades to be used for the processing of juices, jams and...


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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), speaking with Agribusiness Specialist, Ainsworth Riley, at the opening of a two-day seminar on Farm Enterprise Management at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Hotel, Montego Bay, St. James, on August 29.

Hutchinson Emphasises Importance of Agriculture to Growth

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 05 Sep 2016    nicola.wint   
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says the Government is committed to using the agricultural sector as a catalyst for increased economic growth. Addressing stakeholders at a training workshop on Farm Enterprise Management at the Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall, Montego Bay, on August 29, Mr. Hutchinson said it is important that there continues to be a major focus on increasing production and productivity in all facets of the sector. “We are happy that through the continuing efforts of our farmers, we were able to...


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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.

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