Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Hon. Joey Hew, returned over the weekend from a fact-finding visit to prominent commercial entities in Jamaica, to gain a better understanding of their working and their success.

The visit was part of a broader two-day courtesy ministerial visit led by Deputy Premier and Minister for District Administration, Tourism and Transport, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, to Government Officials and the Indian High Commission in Jamaica.

Minister’s Hew’s visits to government agencies Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), the premier trade and business organisation in Jamaica, and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) also included ministry Chief Officer Mr. Alan Jones and Deputy Chief Officer Ms Tamara Ebanks.

The Deputy Premier participated in the JAMPRO visit, which was primarily to meet with JAMPRO President, Ms Diane Edwards and Vice President (Investment Promotion), Mr. Claude Duncan.

JAMPRO is an agency of the Jamaican Government’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce. It promotes business opportunities in export for local entities, and investment by both the local and international private sector in the Jamaican economy.

Minister Hew’s aim was also to learn about JAMPRO’s specific programmes to facilitate and attract investments and, more importantly, retain them for the continuing benefit of Cayman.

“We are looking at different models, including in the Caribbean region and particularly our neighbour Jamaica to give us a better understanding of their successes and perhaps some of the challenges we may face when we start working on our intention to create a National Investment Bureau for the Cayman Islands,” Minister Hew explained.

“During our very cordial and welcoming meeting with Ms Edwards and Mr. Duncan we received some helpful tips and a good insight into their programmes. We certainly came away much better informed,” he commented.

The visit the next day (Friday, 26 January 2018) to the JBDC was solely by the Commerce Ministry team. “It again served as an opportunity for us to meet and greet their officials, led by CEO Ms Valerie Veira, and learn about the services they offer as the lead agency for the development of the business sector in Jamaica,” Minister Hew noted. Also attending from JBDC were Deputy CEO Mr. Harold Davis and Manager Mrs. Althea West-Myers.

Mandated to facilitate that country’s business sector, the JBDC covers all important aspects of service to businesses including in an advisory capacity, to help produce business plans, provide training, and share information on how to access adequate funding.

As such, the organisation has incorporated adaptations from entities such as the US-created Small Business Development Centre, which the Cayman Islands is planning to adapt in the coming months for the benefit of micro, small and medium business enterprises (MSMEs).

“We intend the services we offer to be long-term, relationship-based and to promote business development programmes that will foster economic growth of the entire Islands but more importantly micro, small and medium business entrepreneurs, who are a vital segment in the Cayman Islands’ success,” Minister Hew emphasised.

Photo captions Photos: Supplied

1. At the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), seen l-r are JAMPRO’s Vice President (Investment Promotion), Mr. Claude Duncan; Deputy Premier and Minister for District Administration, Tourism and Transport, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell; Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Hon. Joey Hew; JAMPRO President Ms Diane Edwards; Ministry of Commerce, Planning Infrastructure Deputy Chief Officer, Ms Tamara Ebanks and Chief Officer, Mr. Alan Jones.
2. Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Hon. Joey Hew led his Ministry team on a courtesy visit to the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC). Seen are l-r Ministry Chief Officer Mr. Alan Jones, JBDC Manager Mrs. Althea West-Myers, Ministry Deputy Chief Officer Tamara Ebanks, JBDC CEO, Ms Valerie Veira, Minister Hon. Joey Hew and JBDC Deputy CEO, Mr. Harold Davis.