Logistics Hub

New state-of-the-art business process outsourcing (BPO) office spaces at the Portmore Informatics Park in St. Catherine were commissioned by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on May 5. Constructed by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), the additional buildings, comprising 157,000 square feet, complement the 50,000 square feet that previously existed, increasing the Authority’s BPO space in Portmore by 300 per cent. Mr. Holness said the development is in furtherance of the Government’s priority to support the Global Services sector “and more importantly, it aligns with our strategic objectives to develop Jamaica’s newest parish and to enable its citizens to thrive”. “This development also includes the upgrading of the original areas and buildings and overall space created for parking and… the four three-storey buildings have already been leased to four companies and currently have over 2,000 employees in place supporting banking and finance, air travel, electronics retail, healthcare telecommunications, E-commerce and energy,” the Prime Minister informed. He noted that Portmore is ideal for BPO developments, as it has the highest concentration of university graduates in Jamaica and is, therefore, ready to tap into the knowledge economy through this industry, adding that Portmore is also “well-positioned to become the Silicon Valley of Jamaica”. “That is why I have supported and encouraged the Port Authority and other private-sector companies to build these facilities, so that you can start to now really create the knowledge economy in Portmore,” the Prime Minister said. He argued that while the BPO sector has challenges, “the truth is that it is the fastest growing employment-creation business in Jamaica, and regardless of the complaints, it is putting income in the pockets of over 52,000 Jamaicans; it is creating a basis and a ladder for progress, promotion and prosperity, so I want to give my full endorsement to the BPO sector”. In his remarks, Chairman of the PAJ, Alok Jain, said the building of new BPO spaces represents another significant contribution by the PAJ in supporting Jamaica’s economic development. He informed that in 2000, the PAJ expanded the development of BPO spaces to the Portmore Informatics Park, where 50,000 square feet of space were developed. “Twenty-two years later, we stand here commissioning a further 157,000 square feet of space, increasing the total capacity [of the Park] to 207,000 square feet, with another 147,000 square feet on the horizon for phase two,” he said. Mr. Jain noted that the PAJ has served as a catalyst and an incubator in advancing the BPO industry, providing a nurturing environment, facilitating investments as well as new client development and expansion. “Over the years, in as much as we have grown our own spaces to 670,000 square feet, we have also supported private developments in Jamaica. In this regard, many investors have matured and migrated from PAJ-owned spaces and incubators. In the last decade, that migration has occupied over 600,000 square feet of space in several private developments across Jamaica,” he said. President and CEO of the PAJ, Professor Gordon Shirley; Chairman, Kingston Free Zone Company Limited, Lyttleton Shirley, and Member of Parliament, St. Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, also brought greetings during the event. The Portmore Informatics Park is being developed at a cost of $3.5 billion. The Park is managed by the Kingston Free Zone Company Limited.   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-60-diaspora-conference-to-focus-on-business-opportunities/

New state-of-the-art business process outsourcing (BPO) office spaces at the Portmore Informatics Park in St. Catherine were commissioned by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on May 5. Constructed by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), the additional buildings, comprising 157,000 square feet, complement the 50,000 square feet that previously existed, increasing the Authority’s BPO space in Portmore by 300 per cent. Mr. Holness said the development is in furtherance of the Government’s priority to support the Global Services sector “and more importantly, it aligns with our strategic objectives to develop Jamaica’s newest parish and to enable its citizens to thrive”. “This development also includes the upgrading of the original areas and buildings and overall space created for parking and… the four three-storey buildings have already been leased to four companies and currently have over 2,000 employees in place supporting banking and finance, air travel, electronics retail, healthcare telecommunications, E-commerce and energy,” the Prime Minister informed. He noted that Portmore is ideal for BPO developments, as it has the highest concentration of university graduates in Jamaica and is, therefore, ready to tap into the knowledge economy through this industry, adding that Portmore is also “well-positioned to become the Silicon Valley of Jamaica”. “That is why I have supported and encouraged the Port Authority and other private-sector companies to build these facilities, so that you can start to now really create the knowledge economy in Portmore,” the Prime Minister said. He argued that while the BPO sector has challenges, “the truth is that it is the fastest growing employment-creation business in Jamaica, and regardless of the complaints, it is putting income in the pockets of over 52,000 Jamaicans; it is creating a basis and a ladder for progress, promotion and prosperity, so I want to give my full endorsement to the BPO sector”. In his remarks, Chairman of the PAJ, Alok Jain, said the building of new BPO spaces represents another significant contribution by the PAJ in supporting Jamaica’s economic development. He informed that in 2000, the PAJ expanded the development of BPO spaces to the Portmore Informatics Park, where 50,000 square feet of space were developed. “Twenty-two years later, we stand here commissioning a further 157,000 square feet of space, increasing the total capacity [of the Park] to 207,000 square feet, with another 147,000 square feet on the horizon for phase two,” he said. Mr. Jain noted that the PAJ has served as a catalyst and an incubator in advancing the BPO industry, providing a nurturing environment, facilitating investments as well as new client development and expansion. “Over the years, in as much as we have grown our own spaces to 670,000 square feet, we have also supported private developments in Jamaica. In this regard, many investors have matured and migrated from PAJ-owned spaces and incubators. In the last decade, that migration has occupied over 600,000 square feet of space in several private developments across Jamaica,” he said. President and CEO of the PAJ, Professor Gordon Shirley; Chairman, Kingston Free Zone Company Limited, Lyttleton Shirley, and Member of Parliament, St. Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, also brought greetings during the event. The Portmore Informatics Park is being developed at a cost of $3.5 billion. The Park is managed by the Kingston Free Zone Company Limited.   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/more-bpo-offices-open-in-portmore/

Jamaica now has the capacity to conduct more informed climate risk analyses to better guide the public sector’s decision-making regarding future infrastructural investments. This follows the official launch of the Jamaica Systemic Risk Assessment Tool (J-SRAT) by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, during a ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday (May 3). Jamaica is the first country to use this system, which has been developed to help identify ‘hotspots’ across the major infrastructure networks such as energy, water and transport, that are most vulnerable to climate risk. This will ensure the effective and efficient investment of public and private resources. Minister Samuda stressed that Jamaica is acutely aware of how the physical risks of climate change threaten the country’s development and the well-being and economic security of its citizens. He noted that the loss and damage assessments conducted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) indicate that total damage from seven hurricane events, two tropical storms and at least three extreme flooding events between 2001 and 2010, was estimated to be approximately at $111.81 billion, an average of two per cent of annual gross domestic product (GDP). Senator Samuda further argued that while natural disasters cannot be prevented from happening, “we can avoid the ripple effects of climate change if we act on adaptation and resilience today”. He noted that Jamaica has, therefore, taken a holistic approach to building adaptation and resilience, which takes into consideration the development of the right governance framework. This allows for climate-related policies to be effectively implemented and for a whole-of-government approach to mainstreaming climate change within the national development policies and processes, including public investment. “Getting the infrastructure right is a question of making the right choices relating to investment prioritisation, planning, design, maintenance and rehabilitation. These choices must be accompanied [by] solid data, and must be able to create the spaces for partnerships within the public and private sector to flourish and… facilitate growth,” he said. The provision of this “solid data” is a key output of J-SRAT which will be an instrument of resilience building for Jamaica and to become a point of reference for many other climate-vulnerable countries in the world. In addition, J-SRAT will have the ability to accurately calculate the damage and economic losses from future climate risks. Director-General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Dr. Wayne Henry; Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks, University of Oxford, Jim Hall; Executive Director, Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment, Carlos Sanchez; Head of Political and Development Team, British High Commission, Oliver Blake, who also represented the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), also gave remarks during the launch. The J-SRAT was designed by Oxford University in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica and with support from the CCRI, the UK Government and its FCDO, and the Green Climate Fund. Over the next three days, national experts will benefit from a comprehensive training programme on opportunities presented by J-SRAT, delivered by the University of Oxford.   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-the-first-to-launch-climate-risk-analysis-tool/

Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) operators in the agricultural and fisheries sector have received training through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) formalisation project. The project, ‘Formalising Operators in the Jamaican Agricultural and Fisheries Sector’, benefited 100 operators across both sectors, who received training in transitioning their businesses and employees from an informal to a formal state. Details were provided by Corporate Communications Manager at the JBDC, Suzette Campbell, at the closing ceremony for the training, held at the JBDC Incubator and Resource Centre in Kingston, on Thursday, April 28. She noted that the agricultural sector forms an important part of the Jamaican economy, accounting for 7.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018. Ms. Campbell said even though the agricultural and fisheries sector form an important part of the Jamaican economy, many businesses are operating informally. “This has been an ambitious project for the JBDC. We love to take on ambitious tasks and we want you [farmers and fishermen] to understand that what we do is a business,” she emphasised. Meanwhile, National Project Coordinator, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Resel Melville, explained that in 2015, members of the ILO adopted a recommendation dealing with the transition from an informal to a formal economy. The recommendation, she said, “had the agreement of Government, employers and employees and aims to ensure inclusive and sustainable development”. Ms. Melville argued that “an informal economy involves economic activities that are not necessarily covered by formal arrangements”. As such, the recommendation made was intended to offer member countries in the ILO detailed guidance on three objectives. These include, how countries should facilitate the transition of businesses and employees from an informal to a formal economy, how to proceed with the creation of jobs and enterprises within the formal economy, and how to prevent jobs that are already formal from reverting to a state of informality. Ms. Melville expressed that as a member of the ILO, “it is imperative to note that within the framework of transitioning, organising and ensuring the representation of employers and employees in promoting active social dialogue are key elements”. She also cited the International Labour Standard (ILS), which serves as the basis for Jamaica’s transition to a formal action plan. “Coherent with the ILS, in 2021, Jamaica would have launched, under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), a national transition to a formality action plan which spans a four-year period from 2021 through 2024,” she added. The plan was developed in 2018 from consultations with local farmers and fishermen. The sessions identified the major gaps, challenges and solutions that helped to improve production in these sectors. “Since we know that formalisation in any economy is a long and complex process, I want to leave with you the assurance that the ILO, Caribbean office, is committed to ensuring that Jamaica remains on track in its transition from informality to formality,” said Ms. Melville. The project was largely sponsored by the ILO and received support from several agencies and ministries. These include, but are not limited to, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC); Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF); Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA); Sagicor; HEART/NSTA Trust and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/msme-operators-receive-training-on-formalisation/

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has entered into a partnership with the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), which will see the capital markets of Jamaica and Ghana expanding their products and services to investors in both countries. This is being facilitated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of Mutual Recognition, which was signed by representatives of both entities during a special Bell Ringing ceremony on Monday (May 2) at the JSE’s Harbour Street offices in Kingston. Managing Director of the JSE, Dr. Marlene Street Forrest, who signed the document along with Managing Director of the GSE, Peterson Ekow Afedzie, thanked the GSE for making the journey to Jamaica, “as it further cements our objective of strengthening our linkages and improving our relationship with what we consider to be another area of our diaspora connection – the South-South connection”. Dr. Street Forrest noted that the JSE continues its drive to diversify and widen its participation in not only local and regional markets but international markets as well, and the relationship with Ghana is strategic as the entity pursues its 2025 vision to expand its borders for growth and sustainability. “We continue this journey of executing our 2025 strategic mission by going further afield to Africa, starting with Ghana where our people are similar. This is also in pursuit of the initiative to the benefit of both GSE and the JSE, because we feel that we can work together to ensure that there is wealth creation, that there is further development of our markets,” she added. Dr. Street Forrest further noted that the JSE has been collaborating well with many of its sister exchanges within the Caribbean and with exchanges in North America, the United Kingdom (UK) and other countries across the world. She noted that through the MOU, the JSE is now commencing its push into the African continent, starting with Ghana, pointing out that Africa, like the Caribbean, is the new frontier for growth and development. The Managing Director noted that there are certain commonalities that make the alliance with Ghana ideal, pointing out, for example, that like Jamaica, Ghana has a growing, young, educated middle-class population that has a high demand for goods and services. “Therefore, over the next several years, many companies globally, I believe, will be setting up industries and companies in Africa and the Caribbean. I believe as a stock exchange we are perfectly poised to benefit from such expansion,” she said. She said the JSE is also of the belief that an alliance with the GSE is a starting point in building alliances with other countries in Africa and to explore collaborations and cooperation on the continent. “We have 50 years of experience; Ghana has [had its] exchange for 30 years, but we believe that we can leverage both experiences for the benefit [of both parties]. There is sufficient commonality for mutual understanding, collaboration and growth, and this will help to flesh out those areas of cooperation and set a path for a closer relationship, which we hope will benefit our exchanges… and deepen our ties across the continent,” she said. In his remarks, Mr. Afedzie noted that the MOU signing is historic for many reasons, including the fact that this is the first time Jamaica has signed an agreement in the African stock market. “It is also historic for Ghana because it’s the first time we are also reaching out to the Caribbean,” he said. Mr. Afedzie noted that the GSE is excited about the collaboration “that we believe will last for a very long time. That collaboration [has led] to us signing an MOU, which I hope, and I believe, will lead to us having cross-listers where we can have companies from Ghana listing on the JSE and vice versa”. “We believe that this collaboration can lead to further development of our economies; it can lead to us collaborating in terms of the broader economies and, therefore, we also know that this collaboration will lead to exploration of various investment opportunities across Jamaica and Ghana,” he added. The symbolic ringing of the bell during the ceremony signified the opening of the market and also officially welcomed the delegation from the GSE to Jamaica and the JSE. Mr. Afedzie, along with a delegation from the GSE, is on a week-long study tour of the JSE. Source: https://jis.gov.jm/jse-partners-with-ghana-stock-exchange/

A sum of more than US$200 million is to be spent over the period 2022 to 2025, for capital expenditure programmes at the nation’s international airports and aerodromes. The activities will be undertaken by the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), and MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ) and PAC Kingston Airports Limited (PACKAL), operators of the Sangster International Airport (SIA) and the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), respectively. Some US$70 million is slated to be spent this financial year. Minister of Transport and Mining Hon. Audley Shaw made the announcement during his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on (Wednesday) April 27. In 2022/2023, US$36 million is expected to be spent on phase three of the SIA runway extension, which is being financed from the Airport Improvement Fund (AIF). “The programme, aspects of which commenced in 2018, has three elements, including runway and apron expansion, shoreline protection and enabling works. This runway extension project will increase the declared take-off run by approximately 400 metres to 3,060 metres, and provide runway end safety areas as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO],” he said. He added that this extension will enable the SIA to accommodate long-haul flights from destinations it cannot now serve, such as East Asia. Additionally, MBJ is continuing its investment in the improvement and expansion of the facilities at SIA. “Having invested just under US$300 million on capital projects since the commencement of the concession, the MBJ is slated to spend another US$150 million, which includes the continued expansion of the departure terminal and a three-megawatt solar power project. These projects will significantly improve the capacity and passenger experience at SIA, with the departure lounge set for completion in July,” Mr. Shaw said. Meanwhile, PACKAL is in the process of implementing several projects at the NMIA, including a five-megawatt Solar Power Project at a cost of US$7.8 million, which will provide 75 per cent of the energy requirement of NMIA. The first two megawatts, costing US$2.8 million, is set for completion in May, and the remaining three megawatts, costing US$5 million, will be completed by December. Runway pavement improvements and rehabilitation works valued at US$4.5 million are slated to commence in June for completion by September. Mr. Shaw said the AAJ is also undertaking several projects to improve infrastructure and general aviation in the country, including the NMIA/Port Royal Road Shoreline Protection Project at a cost of $555 million, which is expected to be completed by June 2023. In addition, $130 million is to be spent on construction of a new fire station at the Ian Fleming International Airport, with construction slated for 10 months to end in December. Approval was also granted to pursue the further development of a $100-million project to acquire and upgrade the Lionel Densham Aerodrome. The AAJ is also to pursue the acquisition by lease of the Holland Bamboo airstrip to facilitate airlift to residents, and improved access to tourism attractions in the area, such as Appleton Estate and YS falls.   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/major-spending-planned-for-upgrade-of-airports/

The governments of Jamaica and Rwanda have already begun the process of strengthening their relationship, including greater social and economic ties that are beneficial to the people of both countries. Responding to a question posed during the ‘Think Jamaica 2022 – Government to Government and Civil Society Dialogue’, President of the Republic of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame, said his presence is indicative of the partnership between the nations. The president is on a three-day State Visit to Jamaica. “And then medium term, I suppose we have to work on certain things, but I think the more we get together, the government officials from both sides meet and put a working programme in place…I think we can move quickly and start seeing results. It starts now…it started when I arrived,” he said. The question focused on the strengthening of mutually beneficial ties for both countries over the short, medium, and long term. The Think Jamaica session was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Friday (April 15) and formed part of the activities for the three-day State Visit of President Kagame, the first Rwandan Head of State to visit Jamaica. Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness said collaboration in areas such as science and engineering is critical in accelerating Jamaica’s thrust to create a digital society. “And so, a part of what we will be seeing as the short term, what we discussed, is how we can accelerate our own digital process in line with what Rwanda is doing so that, for example, we can collaborate on science and engineering which are two gaps in our society. But we have similar problems, similar outlooks, we relate to each other as equals and we can find our own solutions,” he said. Mr. Holness said the move to create a digital society “is very important as the next frontier of development, the next frontier of being able to connect with the world, with partners, so that we can collaborate and solve local problems.” The session was moderated by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith. Members of the Houses of Representatives, civil society and other groups participated. Rwanda is situated in Central Africa and bordered to the north by Uganda, east by Tanzania, south by Burundi and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Kigali. Jamaica and Rwanda entered diplomatic relations on November 6, 1998. The three-day State visit by the president coincides with Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence which is being celebrated from January 1 to December 31. President Kagame departs the island today (April 15).   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-and-rwanda-begin-process-to-strengthen-ties/

Weeklong Jamaica-only cruises could soon be a reality as cruise lines seek to explore more cost-effective ways to stay afloat during a still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The move, which Ministry of Tourism officials have been championing for some time, would see a cruise line creating an itinerary where it would take them to all the Jamaican ports of call over a five-to-seven-day period. Leading the charge is Marella Cruises, whose newest flagship fleet, Marella Explorer 2, is currently homeporting in Jamaica’s tourism capital, Montego Bay. “It makes a lot of sense where we could do a Jamaica-only itinerary, where we could come into Montego Bay then move on to Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Port Royal and Port Antonio [not necessarily in that order],” said Marella Explorer 2’s Captain, Kostas Lampropoulous, during a tour of his mega liner by local tourism officials on April 12. “When we are talking about fuel, water… it’s a lot more [cost effective] to do so and is something that we are looking at. We have a great relationship with Jamaica… . We enjoy coming to Jamaica, and we see Jamaica as an important partner,” he added. Captain Lampropoulous noted that the Marella Explorer 2, which leaves the island today (April 13), will be back on April 19 before taking a hiatus until November. He said that the plan is to also increase homeporting activities on the island, making Jamaica a first-call and first-choice destination for Marella Cruises. Meanwhile, Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Joy Roberts, told JIS News that the Tourism Ministry has been lobbying all the major cruise lines regarding the possibility of creating Jamaica-only itineraries, considering that the island is the only Caribbean destination with so many ports of call. She said the revelation by Marella Cruises that it was exploring such a possibility was proof that “we have been doing something right” and is great news for the future of the cruise sector. “There is also the value-added advantage of homeporting which is what Marella Cruises have been doing here in Montego Bay,” she noted. “Montego Bay, with the Sangster International Airport a main and convenient draw, is ideal to have ships for overnight stay and where they could move on to other Jamaican ports. This has been a dream of ours and our Hon. Minister, Edmund Bartlett,” Ms. Roberts said. Homeporting is when a ship uses a port/marine terminal as its home, regardless of its port of registry. This allows passengers to begin/terminate a cruise in the home port and positively impacts ground transportation and tours. Passengers may also fly into the island to board vessels. Among the benefits of home-porting is the creation of jobs for locals, as support services are provided for the vessels such as fuel, water, food and merchandise. Ground transport and small business operators will also profit as passengers disembark and go on tours and shop. On March 14, the Marella Explorer 2 resumed home-porting in Montego Bay. It visited Port Royal and will be back on a weekly cycle until April 19. Between August 2021 and March 16, 2022, Jamaica’s ports received 104 calls comprising 141,265 passengers and 108,057 crew. “Our goal is to bring three million cruise visitors to Jamaica by 2025. We have established the infrastructure, and we will continue to engage the marketplace to accomplish this critical objective. To do this, the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC) will intensify marketing efforts to position Jamaica as the destination of choice for cruise travellers from markets such as the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East,” Mr. Bartlett told JIS News on April 12. “The cruise industry is critical because it provides employment for a significant number of our small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. Once the ship docks, the dollars begin to flow into the hands of the average citizen, and that, in my opinion, is the strength of cruise tourism. It does, I feel, provide the quickest means of wealth transfer due to the very straightforward jobs required. It has an immediate economic impact on ordinary people’s lives, which is critical to the survival of small towns,” he said.

The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) is positioning Jamaica to tap into the multi-trillion-dollar Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment market. ESG investing refers to putting money in companies, which, through their environmental performance, social impact and governance issues, are focused on balancing people, planet and profits. It is becoming increasingly popular as investors seek long-term value and alignment with sustainability and climate-related objectives. According to the United States (US) Sustainable and Impact Investing Trends biennial report, the ESG market was valued at $17.1 trillion in 2020, growing exponentially throughout the pandemic to about $30 trillion. Jamaica is signalling its readiness to enter the market through development of the ‘Sustain-a-Livity’ concept, which was presented to global investors at the recently concluded World Expo 2020 Dubai. During the event, JSEZA hosted a Jamaica Connects Business Forum on ‘ESG Investing in Jamaica: The Sustain-a-Livity Way’. “If you look at it from a stock exchange perspective, the companies that integrate ESG into their systems were performing better than the regular companies that didn’t. So, we were basically saying, we want in on the market,” JSEZA Senior Director for Regulations, Policy, Monitoring and Enforcement, Ainsley Brown, told JIS News. “What we did was reframe it [ESG] into our own sustainability concept because we are not just talking it, we are living it,” he added. Mr. Brown told JIS News that companies that implement ESG in their operations are known for value creation and risk mitigation. On the value creation side, they experience stronger growth, greater productivity, higher return on equity and a higher credit rating. As it relates to risk mitigation, they have lower loan and credit default rates, and reduced legal and regulatory interventions. Sustain-a-Livity is a Jamaican concept focused on harmonious living developed through awareness and expansion of workstyle, lifestyle, life-based and spiritual interests. The concept is a critical part of the JSEZA sustainable economic development framework, which emphasises development for social progress, environmental stewardship and economic growth for all Jamaicans and generations to come. Sustain-a-Livity is incorporated in the Authority’s operations from the review of applications to the facilitation of business, and is promoted throughout the local special economic zones that JSEZA regulates. Mr. Brown shared that implementation of the concept is manifested in ways such as the adoption of International Organization Standardization (ISO) and other types of standards, and the creation of growth-fostering work environments. He noted that the Sustain-a-Livity concept was well received by potential investors at World Expo 2020 Dubai. “They are really drawn to it, and in speaking to people from other special economic zone authorities that are seeking to integrate certain sustainability concepts, they’re looking at us and saying, ‘wow, you guys are ahead of the game’ but we are just scratching the surface,” he told JIS News. “We have not gone really deep into certain things as yet, but the fact that we even have a monitoring mechanism in place in the Sustain-a-Livity framework, which most zones do not have, is significant,” Mr. Brown added. During the six-month World Expo 2020 Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022, which attracted over 24 million visitors from around the world, the Jamaican delegation promoted the island as a prime destination for investment in several areas including ESG.   Source: https://jis.gov.jm/jseza-sets-sights-on-multi-trillion-dollar-esg-market/