Reading Time: 4 minutes

Agency to ramp up sector and economic development activities

JAMPRO Chairman Don Wehby says the agency’s new board of directors will be focusing on pivoting the agency’s economic development activities, as Jamaica seeks to rebound from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and build back a more diversified economy.

The new board of directors, which met for the first time on Thursday, January 21, consists of private and public sector leaders with experience in a variety of sectors, including agribusiness, outsourcing, tourism, manufacturing, creative industries and banking.

Wehby said this experience in a wide range of industries would serve well in leading the agency in the development of action plans and policy advocacy to stimulate transformation of the business environment.

Strategic initiatives for 2021

JAMPRO has started the year running, with a full slate of activities in focus sectors and in key programme areas. The Board expressed full commitment to the public-private Export Max III Programme, focused on building the export capacity of 50 SMEs which are now ready to leverage e-commerce and market penetration activities. 

The agency is currently finalising the National Investment Policy (NIP) White Paper, which will streamline business processes for local and foreign investment approvals. The NIP will bring greater efficiency, transparency and cohesion to the investment process. Another signature project is the National Business Portal, slated to become fully operational in 2022, which will allow online application, tracking and delivery of business approvals.

The Board agreed the following critical strategic programmes which must be implemented during the next financial year:

1. Business Environment Reform Agenda, awaiting funding approval

2. National Investment Policy, at draft White Paper stage, and to include the National Business Portal

3. National 5-year agribusiness strategy, to be tabled at Cabinet/Parliament shortly

4. Global Services Sector project, now being implemented, and to include the Global Digital Services Strategy, being finalised for Cabinet approval

5. National Manufacturing strategy, approved by Cabinet and tabled in Parliament, now being implemented

6. National Sourcing Policy to drive linkages across multiple sectors, in concept stage to get Cabinet approval

7. Prime Account Management strategy (targeting of key companies, local and foreign) to invest n Jamaica or partner on investment projects from Jamaican companies

JAMPRO must move with urgency

Wehby emphasised that it was critical for the Agency to move with urgency, as projections have noted that economic recovery should start globally in 2022, as the outlook for FDI trends for 2021 remain weak (UNCTAD, Investment Trends Monitor).

Wehby explained that Jamaica should be positioned to capitalise on current developments, such as the need to secure more food sources and increased digital services, and other expected opportunities that could materialise in upcoming months. 

Said the JAMPRO Chairman: “JAMPRO’s Board of Directors and Executive is united in the belief that while the pandemic has presented a setback, Jamaica still has a myriad of economic growth opportunities that have not been fully explored. It is our goal to identify and target these real opportunities and to use this time to pursue activities that will position Jamaica as the place to do business regionally, and in so doing, propel the island’s economic recovery. With this aggressive and more focused approach, we are optimistic that we will not only see an improvement in the performance of key sectors, but growth in the overall economy.”

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)’s mission is to drive economic development through growth in investment and export. JAMPRO is an Agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce.

The members of JAMPRO’s Board of Directors are:

Senator Don G. Wehby (Chairman), Group Chief Executive Officer, Grace Kennedy Limited

Mr. Metry Seaga (Deputy Chairman), Managing Director, Jamaica Fibreglass Products Limited

Jacqueline Stewart-Lechler, CD JP, Director, Stewart Auto Sales

Mina Robertson, Research Fellow, Centre for Leadership and Governance, UWI

Garth Walker, Executive Chairman at Adam and Eve Day Spa and Bumble Bee Digital Agency Limited

JoAnne Archibald, Principal Director, Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports

Lisa Soares Lewis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Great People Solutions

Rita Symes-Hylton, Chief Executive Officer, Carita Jamaica Limited

Rochelle Cameron, Attorney at Law and CEO Prescient Consulting Services

Yoni Epstein, Founder Chairman and CEO, itelBPO

Christopher Williams, President and CEO, PROVEN Management Limited

Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist to the Minister of Tourism

Ian K. Levy, Chairman, Ian K. Agencies Limited

Zachary Harding, Group CEO, Stocks and Securities Ltd.