Business View Caribbean - August 2016 85
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce
and Agriculture - A conversation
with former Minister Anthony Hylton
Serving the island’s construction industry
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture
(MICAF) is described as Jamaica’s “Business Ministry.”
Its mandate is to lead in the development of policies
that will create growth and jobs, while achieving social
inclusion and consumer protection. The Ministry, work-
ing with its stakeholders, is primarily responsible for
business policy development, monitoring, and evalua-
tion, while giving direction and oversight to a cluster of
implementing departments and agencies.
The mission of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce
and Agriculture is:
• To increase local and foreign investments
• To be the driver of innovation and job creation
• To promote and protect Jamaican brands, consum-
ers, and businesses
• To create an enabling environment to increases
earnings from export
The following text is taken from a recent conversation
with former Minister, Anthony Hylton, who oversaw the
Ministry for the past several years when it was called
the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.
Although both the name and the leadership of the Min-
istry changed when a new government was installed in
Jamaica, this past February, its basic functions remain
the same. And former Minister Hylton’s comments are
still eminently relevant and timely.
Mr. Minister, can you speak a little bit about the busi-
ness climate in Jamaica and why it’s a good place to
do business?
“The global indices indicate that Jamaica is in a ‘sweet
spot’ and has entered a period where we have focused
on improving our business rankings in a variety of ar-
eas: in our ease of doing business; in our competitive-
ness; in our profile for investment; and in logistics per-
formance. Forbes Magazine sums it up best by saying
Jamaica is, at the moment, the best country in the Ca-
ribbean for doing business and for investing. We have
what it takes to attract investment, drive industrial de-
velopment, and enable commerce to take place in a
very efficient and competitive manner. The mix of poli-
cies and programs being pursued by the government,
and the professionalism that increasingly exists within
AT A GLANCE
WHO:
Ministry of Industry, Investment and
Commerce
WHAT:
A ministry of the government of Jamaica
WHERE:
Kingston, Jamaica
WEBSITE
:
