December 2016 | Business View Caribbean

72 73 The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries – Jamaica MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY - JAMAICA A CONVERSATIONWITH THE HONORABLE KARL SAMUDA This past February, in the country’s general elections, the Ja- maica Labor Party (JLP) won a narrow victory over the governing People’s National Party (PNP) and formed a new government. As a result, the incoming administration, as it is wont to do, reshuffled some of the cabinet ministries and appointed new heads of the various government departments. The new Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries is now being led by the Honorable Karl Samuda, CD, MP. Recently, Business View Magazine spoke with Minister Samuda in a free-wheeling discussion about his Ministry’s functions, as well as the general business environment on the island, today. The following is an edited transcript of that conversation: BVM: Mr. Minister, can you begin by telling us about the makeup of your new Ministry? SAMUDA: “This is a very comprehensive Ministry. It now in- corporates industry and commerce, along with agriculture and fisheries. The reason for that is very simple: what we have come to realize is that it is best if we look at agriculture as a business and a very big business. So, we are incorporating into this Ministry all the elements of business, including a great emphasis on the MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) sector. And so, we THE HON. KARL SAMUDA AT A GLANCE | THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE, AGRICULTURE, AND FISHERIES WHAT: A ministry of the government of Jamaica WHERE: Kingston, Jamaica WEBSITE: www.miic.gov.jm