Mining Minister Floyd Green says there has been a 300 per cent increase in the export of limestone over the past year, as the demand for minerals from Jamaica has skyrocketed.

Green, who was speaking at a ‘Riverside Chat’ held during the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference,
at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on June 18, discussed the topic ‘Investment opportunities in
agriculture, fisheries and mining’.

“We have a long, rich history of significant investment in our minerals. A lot of you are familiar with Jamaica being a big exporter of bauxite and alumina, but what you may not know is that over the last year or so, we have seen an increase in our limestone exports,” the minister outlined.

“Jamaica has some of the highest-grade limestone in the entire world, and now we have Jamaican companies that are providing chemical grade limestone to [make] things like [antacids] and toothpaste. So, we have tremendous opportunities, and Jamaica is [made of] 90 per cent limestone,” he added.

He further noted that there are also several investment opportunities in the areas of agriculture and fisheries on the island for persons in the diaspora.

The Green highlighted the Government’s recently announced Food for Progress Jamaica Spices project, which is being done in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ACDI/VOCA.

This initiative, funded by USDA, will support 7,500 farmers and agricultural market systems, including women, youth and other marginalised groups; create a more diversified and vibrant spice sector, and contribute to a 50 per cent increase in ginger, turmeric, and pimento through improved planting material and management practices.

Launched last year, Food for Progress Jamaica Spices is a five-year undertaking, which runs until 2027, that aims to revitalise the island’s spice industry by increasing yields of turmeric, ginger, and pimento on 2,250 hectares of land, by 50 per cent.

This is to generate overall projected sales of US$20.75 million, with annual exports accounting for US$14.5 million of this target.

The diaspora conference, which opened last Sunday (June 16) concluded on June 19.