JAMPRO Trade & Investment Jamaica

Business View Caribbean 7 volved with the upgrade of the business environment. We coordinate our efforts so that we all operate in sync on business-related matters.” As Jamaica sits at the doorway to the newly expanded Panama Canal, it has been preparing for the possibil- ity of becoming the fourth node of the global logistics framework, joining Rotterdam, Dubai, and Singapore. Key to that initiative is investment in the country’s in - frastructure as it relates to logistics - the ability to get product to market quickly and efficiently. “Logistics is one of the critical areas of focus for JAM- PRO,” Edwards states. “We have a department that is focused on logistics and attracting investments in this area, and we have made huge strides in this effort. For instance, there is a private company called Kings - ton Wharves that is developing its own logistics cen- ter on the private side of the wharf and has attracted quite a number of transshipment companies to oper- ate through their enhanced facility. In addition, there is the public side of the wharf which was called Kingston Container Terminal, and which is now called Kingston/ Freeport Terminal. That has been privatized through a concession agreement to CMA-CGM (a worldwide lead- ing container shipping company) and Terminal Link (a port operator). In addition, we have interest from inter- national companies in dry-docking, in ship provision- ing, and in developing an LNG hub in Jamaica. “We are also privatizing the airport in Kingston; and the airport in Montego Bay has already been privatized, so you really will have quick connectivity between the port, the airport, and the road network. We have done significant work in upgrading the road network in Ja - maica to the point where we now have proper, modern highways that allow connections between the different points in the country. “Logistics is going to permeate the Jamaican econo- my. It’s not just going to be about one particular place. We’re developing a whole complex of infrastructure and various components that go into building out this fourth node of the international or global logistics framework.” JAMPRO considers itself the ambassador of the Ja- maican brand and is continually focused on promoting investment and export opportunities in order to grow the country’s economy and enhance the life of its citi- zens. JAMPRO wants the world to know that “Jamaica means business.”