The Government continued to push for public and private sector entities to get certified to international standards in order to enhance competitiveness, while enhancing customer service delivery.
• ISO 9001:2015 certification for EX-IM Bank, Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Auditor General’s Department and Companies Office of Jamaica.
• The ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) certification product, aimed at food industry businesses, was launched.
• The JS ISO 31000:2019 Risk Management Guidelines was launched to manage risk in public sector organisations.
• The Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA) was officially launched in October, making Jamaica the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish a full regulatory body for radiation protection and safety.
Manufacturing
• Companies substituted imported items such as hand sanitiser with locally-produced brands.
• A 50 per cent reduction in export-related fees and charges enabled more businesses to tap into the export market and boost Jamaica’s competitiveness internationally.
Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC)
• The webinar series ‘JBDC Virtual Biz Zone’ was launched to continue training for entrepreneurs as they tackle COVID-19.
• Things Jamaican e-Commerce was launched with more than 2,000 products being offered on the website.
JAMPRO
• JAMPRO launched the first phase of the National Business Portal (NBP) to facilitate multiple business- to-government trans-actions in one online location.
• JAMPRO and UDC partner to promote investment in sustainable eco-tourism projects, with the first being the Two Sisters Cave in Hellshire, St. Catherine.
Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ)
• COJ launched its COVID-19 Compliance Relief Initiative to assist entities that had to be closed due to the pandemic, in being officially removed from the Business Names Register.
Trade Board
• More than 8,000 import and export permits were approved since implementation of the online export and import facilitation platform in
June.
• More than 600 persons were engaged virtually to use the platform.
Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA)
• As at November 30, 71 licences have been issued; 26 licences have been granted and are awaiting the payment of fees for issuance.
• 331 applications are at the Conditional Approval stage of the application process.
• Licensed retail herb houses were able to sell to qualified customers.
• Seven standards for the local cannabis industry were promulgated and gazetted that are expected to help to further enhance trade opportunities for the growing pool of licensees.
