INDUSTRY & COMMERCE
Electronic Business Registration Form
• The innovative Electronic Business Registration Form (eBRF) was launched in August to facilitate 24-hour online business registration from any location globally via the COJ’s website – www.orcjamaica. com.
Jamaica Trade Information Portal
• This platform, which provides a single authoritative source relating to import-export regulations, requirements and processes, was launched.
MSME Digital Marketing Plan
• A three-year micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) Digital Marketing Plan launched, to strengthen and empower MSMEs with the requisite solutions. The Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with Google partner Kolau, for collaboration on the digitisation of 25,000 MSMEs in three years.
Consumer Affairs Commission
The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) secured $18.5 million in compensation and refund on behalf of aggrieved consumers between January and November 2019. This sum was recovered from 1,550 complaints, 1,279 of which were resolved, representing an 82.5 per cent resolution rate.
Global Services Sector Programme
• The Global Services Sector (GSS) programme was launched to help position Jamaica as a digital hub for business, and generate more employment in high-end information technology (IT)-enabled services.
• Ground was broken for GTECH Park, a new business process outsourcing (BPO) complex in Portmore, St. Catherine, which will see the creation of up to 4,500 additional jobs for Jamaicans.
• Official opening of the Montego Bay Free Zone Company Limited’s Data Entry Building Number 7 in St. James.
Bureau of Standards
• The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) launched Jamaican Standard (JS) ISO 14005:2017 – Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Guidelines. The standard provides guidance for all organisations, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), on the phased development, implementation and maintenance of an EMS within their entities.
Online Investment Guide
• Jamaicas’ first ever online investment guides (iGuides) was launched. The facility aims to provide investors with information at their fingertips that will help them in their decision to invest in Jamaica.
Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA)
• The CLA has issued 50 licences for activities such as cultivation, retail, processing, research and development, and transportation.
Export Max III
• 50 companies are benefiting from capacity-building and export promotion support under the Government’s Export Max III programme, which rolled out in April.