MICAF Hosts COVID-19 Consultation with Industry Stakeholders

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) today hosted a meeting with industry stakeholders to ascertain concerns and to discuss strategies to safeguard businesses against the background of the potential threat of the COVID-19 disease .
Among the issues discussed at the meeting, held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices on March 5, 2020, was the availability of supplies for manufacturers, the need to guard against hoarding and price increases as well as the need to ramp up production.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of State at MICAF, Hon Floyd Green, joined with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association in calling for increased productivity and urged manufacturers to resist price increases as much as possible.
Minister Green also urged the National Compliance Regulatory Authority and the Consumer Affairs Commission to increase their visits to supermarkets as well as the frequency of reports to consumers.
The Minister also mandated the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to prepare a 2-3 month plan outlining how agricultural production would be increased to include supply of backyard gardening kits.
The Ministry will be working closely with the MSMEs and key players in the sector, including the EXIM Bank and the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA), to ensure that MSMEs are implementing their business continuity strategies to minimize any impact from potential shocks.
Other initiatives to be explored include establishment of a COVID-19 Hotline in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the National Disaster Committee and meetings with the bankers regarding financing/refinancing of loans for businesses, where necessary.