THE JAMAICA Business Development Centre (JBDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jamaica Promotions Agency (JAMPRO), as part of efforts to promote Jamaican products and services internationally.
more...

Caribbean Business Opportunity Services (CBOS), is designed specifically for Caribbean organisations to maximise business opportunities regionally and globally. The main function of the CBOS site is to provide important business information and topics across the Caribbean, facilitate business-matching for subscribers and list up-to-date information about procurement opportunities.

For information on the Caribbean Business Opportunity Services, please visit the CBOS website.

On 26th July 2006, the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) launched the first of its Jamaica Business Information Centres (JAMBIC). JBDC in recognizing the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Micro and SME sector competitiveness has embarked on developing partnerships with various entities to establish Business Information Centres islandwide. These Centres are aimed at disseminating business information and training to enterprises in an attempt to improve business competitiveness.

The Executive Director of JBDC, Harold Davis, was quoted as saying that the centres represented “one of the solutions to getting information into every nook and cranny of the Jamaica”. It would therefore facilitate the expansion of the business sector and the creation of wealth.

In addition, the centers seek to contribute to Jamaica’s readiness for the networked world, in the Micro & SME sector, in order to, not only increase competitiveness, but also to diversify exports and expand productive employment.

Guest Speaker at the Launch, The Hon. Philip Paulwell, Minister of Industry Technology Energy and Commerce, in addressing the gathering stated that, “Our new breed of MSE’s (medium and small enterprise) must be world class business entities that will be attributes such as excellence in production processes and customer service management”. He also said these businesses needed to develop the capacity to use information technologies and technical support to develop high value-added products and services.

The enterprises must also have the ability to compete both in the domestic market and globally, Paulwell said. “In optimizing the contribution of MSEs to employment and economic development, we need to raise the rate of formation of new MSEs with growth potential, since MSEs will contribute to investment, employment and income generation,” he said.

JBDC will be partnering with the regional chamber of commerce, libraries or general business services providers that have a client base in place, in establishing the JAMBICs. There will be further news of the opening of the Hanover, Montego Bay, Negril, Portmore and St Ann centres in the next few months.  

The partnership between private and public sector on important initiatives such as this is an excellent foundation for successful outputs.