Senior executives from Japan-based Marubeni Power International made a series of visits with Government and private sector representatives recently, aligned with the observance of the 100th anniversary of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).

The visits included Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, with Marubeni executives also engaging with Metry Seaga, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and its executive director Imega Breese McNab.

The Marubeni team, comprising high-ranking officials were said to have held productive discussions on various key topics. 

Minister Johnson Smith noted on social media, “We discussed Marubeni’s global work in renewables and #GreenTransition, as well as the correlation between #SustainableDevelopment, private sector investments and social cohesion.”

In addition, Johnson Smith highlighted the significance of their investment and emphasised the crucial role of corporate social responsibility, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the central areas of focus at the PSOJ meeting was the cost of electricity supply to the commercial sector, considering Marubeni’s substantial investments to increase available capacity while minimising its carbon footprint.

Notably, the discussions highlighted the progress made at the South Jamaica Power Company (SJPC) plant in Old Harbour, St Catherine.

In addition to energy-related matters, the meetings covered the business environment for manufacturing and industrial companies in Jamaica. The Marubeni representatives also explored opportunities to incorporate emerging technologies into the Jamaican landscape, leveraging the company’s extensive global operating expertise for the benefit of the Jamaican economy.

Marubeni Corporation, founded in 1858, is one of the largest Japanese industrial conglomerates, with interests in commodities trading in addition to its strong electrical and industrial plant businesses.