Industry State Minister Says Country Still Open For Business
MIIC Author
Jamaica is “still open for business”, even as the Government continues to prioritise the health and safety of its citizens.
This is the message from State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green.
“Even with our emphasis and priority on keeping our citizens safe, ensuring that we take the decisions that are in the best interest of the health of our nationals, we have done so while ensuring that business can continue,” he said.
The State Minister’s comments were made during the Jamaican American Youth Alliance (JAYA) ‘Young People Talk COVID-19’ virtual forum on Tuesday (April 14).
JAYA provides mentorship and networking opportunities for young Jamaicans in the diaspora.
The forum provided an opportunity for young Jamaicans to voice their concerns on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to have personal interaction with government officials and business industry experts in Jamaica and the United States.
In his contribution to the discussion, Mr. Green said micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have a critical role to play in the recovery of the Jamaican economy, which is one of many around the world that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
The State Minister said the Government is providing a range of interventions to stimulate growth in the MSME sector, adding that the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has allocated $7.39 billion for loans to MSMEs during the 2020/21 fiscal year.
Additionally, the DBJ will be promoting sustainable and robust growth among MSMEs and business start-ups under the US$50-million Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Boosting Innovation in Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Project, which is slated to be launched this year.
The initiative aims to stimulate innovation and productivity among MSMEs with growth potential, promote sustainable and disruptive growth in scalable start-ups, and create a sustainable pipeline of high-growth potential start-ups and supporting entrepreneurship ecosystem.
JAMAICA INFORMATION SERVICE
Recent News
See all news
Posted on 27/08/2025
Minister Hill Champions Jamaica as Top Business Destination
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Aubyn Hill, has reaffirmed that Jamaica remains a top destination for doing business, citing the Government’s expanded support for investors, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Ente...
Posted on 19/08/2025
NCRA Records Seven Per Cent Year-on-Year Increase in Site Inspections
In 2024, the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) conducted 4,870 site inspections, up from 4,550 in 2023. This represents a seven per cent increase and is attributed to intensified monitoring of products at each site inspected. The...
Posted on 31/07/2025
Caribbean Countries Encouraged to Take Greater Advantage of EU Partnership Agreement
Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jamaica, Belize, and The Bahamas, Her Excellency Dr. Erja Askola, is encouraging Caribbean countries to take greater advantage of trade opportunities under the EU-Caribbean Economic Partnership ...
