Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill underscored his ministry’s commitment to addressing longstanding challenges, identifying new opportunities, and shaping trade policy collaboratively with key business stakeholders during a recent webinar hosted by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ).

The solution-focused virtual session, dubbed The PSOJ Trade Gateway Webinar, was held under the theme “Business Opportunities Amidst Crisis”, and provided a platform a high-level platform for open dialogue. As such, PSOJ Executive Director Sacha Vaccianna-Riley held a question-and-answer segment with Minister Hill to address trade and investment matters with onlookers from a cross-section of Jamaica’s business community.

With over 40 participants from diverse industries, the webinar aimed to bring the private sector into direct conversation with the Government through a structured, open forum with real-time feedback.

Opening with a call to action, Minister Hill said, “A crisis allows persons in leadership to make changes that a steady state environment would cause persons to wonder why. There has been a long discussion, year after year, about making a one-stop shop for the business sector to deal with the Government on export and trade matters. The developments around the tariff changes initiated by the United States has placed a very high degree of urgency in putting that operation into play through collaboration between the Government, its relevant agencies and business operators. We must make our house efficient and effective.”

On this note, the minister urged key entities, including PSOJ, JCC, JMEA and the Customs Agency of Jamaica to partner with JAMPRO, the Trade Board, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica led by his portfolio ministry to establish a working group tasked with delivering a one- stop shop solution within short time to simplify and streamline trade-related services.

“We must be bold, sensible, careful, and agile to attract foreign investment,” he stated.

He also highlighted Jamaica’s strategic location and rising profile as a serious and attractive investment destination, emphasising opportunities in efficient-shoring, nearshoring, and friend-shoring, particularly within special economic zones (SEZs). The minister additionally addressed tariffs and global trade shifts, stressing the need for a more deliberate, opportunity-driven approach.

“We must be a lot more international than we have been, we must go and search for and secure overseas markets” he declared.

Permanent Secretary Sancia Bennett Templer highlighted the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s export readiness initiatives, underscoring the role of Export Jamaica and Export Max in helping Jamaican businesses prepare for and enter export markets.

Dr Hugh Blake, CEO and Trade Administrator of the Trade Board Limited, detailed other digital export platforms facilitating faster, smoother access to global markets for Jamaican goods and services.

Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to MSMEs and rural economic transformation, Minister Hill pointed out that the EU-funded Digital Jamaica initiative, for which his ministry overseas the implementation, supports small businesses in digitisation, capacity-building, and profitability. He also discussed the mother farm concept to transition from subsistence farming to viable agribusiness models supported by patient capital.

While making reference to the Andrew Holness Administration’s efforts to expand the financial services sector, he noted the recently enacted Segregated Accounts Companies legislation, and emphasised the importance of positioning Jamaica as a global logistics player.

“The Andrew Holness Administration takes the time to make smart policy and over the past 10 years, it has worked for us,” Minister Hill beamed.

Attendees echoed strong support, with one commenting:  “I have found JAMPRO to be the best place to start with exporting. Great team, very connected, and they help you clear through the clutter.”

The PSOJ Trade Gateway Webinar exemplifies the collaborative efforts between the Government and the private sector to develop effective solutions that will position Jamaica for success in the global environment.

Vaccianna-Riley underscored the importance of the webinar following the session.

“At the PSOJ, we believe in facilitating real-time, solutions-driven engagement between the public and private sectors. This webinar is part of our broader effort to strengthen Jamaica’s trade competitiveness and create tangible business opportunities for our members,” she said.