Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, says Drax Hall in St Ann is emerging as a competitive commercial hub which could soon rival other similar established areas across Jamaica.

Holness, who was delivering the keynote address during the opening of a new Courts furniture and appliance store in Drax Hall on Thursday, October 10, said the once sleepy town has rapidly developed into a bustling commercial hub, largely due to its strategic location along Jamaica’s North Coast and its proximity to the Edward Seaga Highway.

The prime minister also highlighted the area’s increasing allure to both international brands and local businesses, noting that a surge in investments has catalysed a construction boom, positioning Drax Hall as an ideal spot for business expansion.

“Drax Hall is now showing another dimension of the richness of the parish,” he stated, emphasising that St Ann’s economic landscape is broadening beyond its tourism-centric foundations.

Holness further underscored that this economic growth is translating into tangible benefits for the community, with new employment opportunities and improved access to a variety of goods and services, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Citing what he referred to as St Ann’s robust tourism identity, characterised by its vibrant entertainment scene and the famed Dunn’s River Falls, among other notable features, Dr Holness said Drax Hall’s emerging commercial prowess is also a testament of the parish’s diverse economic potential.

“Drax Hall is now showing another dimension of the richness of the parish. You are now developing a commercial hub, and it is important that that point be made… that the Jamaican economy can be much more than tourism, [which] is still the main plank of our foreign exchange earnings, and still the main known catalytic attraction for foreign direct investments (FDI),” he stated.

Holness informed that Jamaica attracted $US431 million in foreign direct investment in 2023 which, he noted, represents a 35 per cent increase over the $US319 million recorded the previous year. “This is a recovery, and it underscores the strength of the Jamaican economy to [quickly recover] its foreign direct investment from the [impact of the] COVID-19 pandemic,” the prime minister added.

He emphasised that this rebound underscores Jamaica’s economic resilience and the strategic draw of its diverse opportunities for foreign and local investors. Holness said Courts’ massive new investment marks a significant moment for Drax Hall, and reflects broader national ambitions for sustained growth and diversification within Jamaica’s economy.