KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams says the government is fully committed to the establishment and development of the global logistics hub.
She said the hub holds strong prospects of becoming a facilitator of small business development and enhancing the job creation potential of the transportation and logistics industry.
“Jamaica, like other countries in the region, sees tremendous opportunities within the global logistics and transportation industry. We recognize the significant strategic and economic advantages that can be derived from the building of a global logistics hub. We know the industry is very competitive but we are confident that Jamaica will prevail, owing to our competitive advantages,” Ffolkes Abrahams said while delivering the main address at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Expo Seminar and panel discussion, held at the Montego Bay Convention Center in St. James yesterday.
The theme of the expo was “Exploring opportunities from the Global Logistics Hub.”
FFolkes Abrahams indicated that one of the country’s competitive advantages is its geo-strategic location, with Jamaica offering a north-south-east-west option for supply or value chains within the western hemisphere.
“No other country has such an advantageous location. We offer a pull of ships coming from the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, mostly from China, and as such we can act as a value added, warehousing and distribution center, or what is called nearshoring. Our geographic comparative advantage also applies in the area of aviation. Other advantages include deep water ports, with several located in the south of the country. Kingston has the seventh largest natural harbour in the world,” the state minister said.
Source: Jamaicanobserver.com
