The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) is returning with its Manufacture 360° 2025 edition following the successful staging of the event last year.

The only conference of its kind in Jamaica focused exclusively on the manufacturing sector a national scale, Manufacture 360° will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the AC Hotel Kingston, with Sagicor Group Jamaica as the official title sponsor.

With the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Jamaican Manufacturing from All Angles’, the conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and international experts for discussions on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of manufacturing in Jamaica.

“This year’s conference comes at a critical time for the industry,” explained Kamesha Blake, executive Director of the JMEA, adding: “With shifting global trade dynamics, the rise of artificial intelligence, and growing demands for sustainability and innovation, it’s more important than ever for us to come together, share ideas, and develop forward-thinking strategies that strengthen the sector and boost global competitiveness. Manufacture 360° is that platform.”

As with last year, the JMEA promises the conference will be a dynamic, engaging experience with fireside chats, Q&A sessions, and expert-led panels offering practical insights and valuable networking opportunities. Blake shared that the decision to make Manufacture 360° a calendar event is due to the overwhelming demand from the association’s members, who emphasised that no other forum offers an equivalent level of engagement, collaboration, and strategic value to manufacturers.

For the 2025 edition of the conference, the agenda will explore high-priority topics such as global trade disruptions, technology-driven productivity, sustainability in manufacturing, alternative financing, family business succession, energy efficiency, and inspiring industry stories that promote capitalising on opportunities.

One of the most anticipated sessions will include John Mountford from Enginuity, a UK-based engineering and manufacturing skills charity which leads as an authority on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Mountford, who is the leader on an industry skills demand study, will address Jamaica’s widening skills gap by spotlighting international best practices—such as apprenticeships, industry-academia collaboration, and work-based learning—to help build a more adaptive, future-ready workforce. His presentation will also examine the role of skills development in advanced manufacturing, automation, and green technologies—key pillars of the Industry 4.0 transformation.

This year’s event will once again follow a three-part format. Activities kick off on Wednesday, May 28, with a Pre-Conference Networking Mixer at Hyundai Jamaica, offering early opportunities for engagement and knowledge exchange. The conference itself will be held on Thursday, May 29 at the AC Hotel Kingston, and the experience concludes on Friday, May 30, with an exclusive factory tour of CB Group’s The Nest—a state-of-the-art, $15-billion poultry processing facility in Hill Run, St. Catherine.

The 2025 staging is made possible through the support of partners from both the public and private sectors. In addition to Sagicor Group Jamaica, confirmed sponsors include First Global Bank Limited (FGB), National Commercial Bank (NCB), HEART/NSTA Trust, Seaboard Freight and Shipping Jamaica Limited, Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited, Foska Oats, Salesforce, JP Logistics Solutions, and Innovative Energy Group.