dec_2017c

50 51 jobs intotal for thesector.” BVM: Howdoesagriculture fit intotheeconomic plan? MinisterShaw: “Weareseekingtocreatemoredirect linkagesbetweenagricultureandtourism.Insteadof importingfoodthat canbeproduced in Jamaica,the plan is tohavemoresmall farmshereproducinggoods for tourists toconsume.That includespoultry(where weareself-sufficient) andawide rangeof fruit and vegetables.Over200,000small farmers in Jamaicacan haveadirect linkage toabetter lifebyproducingmore, andhelpingto feedmillionsof tourists that comehere annually. “Inthepast,we ignoredthegranular linkages that must exist ifyouwant tomaximizeyourbenefit from tourism.So,we’veestablishedaTourismLinkagesCom- mittee tosystematicallyidentifyareasofneedforhotels andvisitors,intermsof attractions,food,drink,andsoon. “For instance,wearegoingtobe reopeningtheAp- pletonRumTour–a rail excursiontakingtourists from MontegoBaytothedeeprural sugar estatewhere the rumismade.The tourwas shutdownsomeyearsago, andnowa$40million (US) privatesector investment will see the trains runningagain.Thecompanythat produces rumjust completedan$8million (US) invest- ment torefurbishtheirvisitor’s facility.The tour experi- encewill let tourists stopalongthewaytomeet local people,eat jerkchicken,visit a local bar.Thatbenefits our economyandthepeopleof Jamaica.” BVM: Whatother typesofdevelopment arecontrib- utingto Jamaica’sgrowingeconomy? MinisterShaw: “We just reopenedtheAlpartAlumi- MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE, JAMAICA naproductionfacilityinSt.Elizabeth,whichclosed in 2009duringtheglobal economicmeltdown.AChinese company,Jisco,will shipout their first aluminashipment inDecember.Theplan is toeventuallydoubleproduc- tionbybuildingasecondplant.Jisco isalsobuilding theirown liquidnatural gasenergyplant topower their factories.The investment atmaturitywill beabout$2.5 billion (US),employingabout3,000 Jamaicans. “Wehavemajor infrastructureprojectsalongthe North-SouthHighway: hotels tobebuiltonthenorth coast terminationpointof thehighway,andhousing alongthehighwaycorridor that connectsOchoRios to thecapital cityofKingston. Inaddition,therewill bea major economiczoneat thesouthernendof thehigh- way,not far fromtheexpandedPortofKingston.Wedi- vested it toaFrenchcompanycalledCMACGMJamaica –theyaredredgingtheharbor toreceive thenewsuper cargo linerscomingthroughthePanamaCanal. “Logistically,Jamaica is the firstportof call for ships comingoutof thePanamaCanal.Whenpeople think