Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill will participate in a technical exchange on best practices in the design and operation of special economic zones (SEZs) in Bogotá, Colombia, from February 24–26.

The exchange, organised by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with Araujo Ibarra Consulting Firm, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Jamaica’s SEZ ecosystem and enhance the country’s investment readiness and export competitiveness.

Hill noted that Jamaica’s participation reflects the Government’s commitment to building globally competitive SEZs that drive investment and exports. “Jamaica must position itself for success in a rapidly changing global trade environment. By

learning from established international models, we are strengthening our Special Economic Zone framework to attract quality investment, expand exports, and create opportunities for Jamaican businesses and workers. Caymanas SEZ must be world-class, efficient, and competitive, and engagements like this help us move decisively in that direction.”

The minister noted with interest that many of Colombia’s special economic zones are owned and operated by private-sector parties.

The delegation, led by Hill, includes officials from the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), JAMPRO and the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA).

The Jamaican delegation will engage Colombian SEZ authorities, investment promotion officials, customs representatives, and private and public sector stakeholders to examine operational models, co-ownership structures, security systems, inventory control mechanisms, and nearshoring promotion strategies. The programme includes a technical visit to Zona Franca Bogotá, one of the region’s leading industrial and logistics zones, where more than 250 companies conduct over 300,000 customs operations annually.

The business mission will also include strategic discussions on Jamaica’s positioning within the global trade environment, including opportunities arising from nearshoring trends and the country’s competitive access to the United States market. A dedicated working session will focus on strengthening the value proposition and international promotion strategy for the Caymanas Special Economic Zone.

The engagement is supported under an IDB-backed consultancy aimed at advancing operational excellence, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing Jamaica’s long-term competitiveness within global value chains.