The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) have responded positively to news of Jamaica’s economic recovery after two quarters of decline.

The JMEA has welcomed the news from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) of a 1.1 per cent increase in output for the January to March period as a positive indicator of recovery. Meanwhile, the JCC said the report of growth is encouraging.

• READ: STATIN reports 1.1% GDP growth for Jamaican economy in Q1 2025

“The increase in agriculture, manufacturing and construction, driving the two per cent increase in the goods-producing sector, is encouraging; offsetting a flatter performance in services with a 0.8 per cent increase. Tourism is still looking flat-ish this year, so continued better performance on the goods side is essential if growth is to continue this year,” Keith Collister, JCC director and chair of the chamber’s economics and taxation committee, shared with Our Today.

Collister reiterated that the growth in gross domestic product (GDP) is encouraging, especially in a context that “interest rates may still be too high for the current subdued state of the economy”.

He was also optimistic about the future of tourism, highlighting that in the first few weeks of June, Jamaica recorded a 1.5 per cent increase in stopover arrivals. This, he said, “indicates a potential turnaround from that flatness”.

For the JMEA, domestic first-quarter growth was a welcome relief and more so for the increased output from the goods-producing sector.

“We are particularly encouraged by the 1.7 per cent growth in the manufacturing industry, which signals renewed momentum in one of the country’s key productive sectors,” Kamesha Turner Blake told Our Today.

On a wider scale, she said that the performances in ‘Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries’ and ‘Construction’ reinforce the value of productive investment and local capacity building.

“However, we must remain vigilant and proactive,” the JMEA executive director said.

Resilience and adverse conditions

“This growth follows a challenging period marked by adverse weather conditions and persistent global supply chain disruptions. Yet, as an industry, we continue to demonstrate resilience and determination to rebound, innovate, and drive economic activity across the country,” she continued.

Jamaica’s GDP declined 3.5 per cent in the July-September 2024 quarter, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl to the south of the island on July 3. Real added value again contracted by 0.8 per cent in the fourth quarter (October to December), resulting in GDP loss.

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“This reflected the impact of Tropical Storm Rafael in November 2024 and the lingering effects of
Hurricane Beryl from July 2024. The impact of these adverse weather conditions was most evident in the ‘Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing’ industry,” STATIN said in its report published in March 2025.

While acknowledging that shocks are unavoidable—whether from climate, geopolitics, or market volatility—Blake contended that “we must strengthen our internal systems and policy frameworks to build resilience and unlock sustainable growth”. To this end, she called on the Government to continue providing a stable and enabling macroeconomic environment.

Challenges remain

At the same time, Blake urged the Government to address “long-standing structural challenges”, including:

• High energy costs, which remain a major constraint on competitiveness.

• Labour shortages and the scarcity of skilled workers, which limit expansion and productivity.

• Bureaucratic inefficiencies that hamper the ease of doing business and delay critical investments.

“As manufacturers and exporters, we want to see Jamaica become more competitive, reduce reliance on imports, and expand its export footprint. The current trajectory is encouraging, but long-term progress will require bold reforms, continued partnership between the public and private sectors, and a relentless focus on building capacity across all layers of the economy,” Blaked informed Our Today.

“The JMEA remains committed to advocating for these changes and supporting our members in their journey to scale and thrive,” she concluded.

Efforts by Our Today for a comment from the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica up to Friday evening were unsuccessful.

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