As Jamaica experiences record employment levels and rising optimism among businesses and consumers, concerns are mounting over a growing skills shortage that could undermine the country’s progress. This “confidence dilemma” will be the central theme at the third-quarter release of the GK Capital Management (GK Capital)/Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Business and Consumer Confidence Indices on October 28. Key Details The event will convene prominent leaders from business, academia, and workforce development to discuss strategies for aligning Jamaica’s talent pool with the evolving needs of its economy. Scheduled speakers include: Dr Kevin Brown , President of the University of Technology (UTech) Dr Taneisha Ingleton , Managing Director of HEART/NSTA Trust Steven Whittingham , CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group and Chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange They will join Emile Leiba , President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of DunnCox, and ...

PORT ANTONIO, JAMAICA,  A major economic boost is underway for Portland as construction officially begins on the long-anticipated $4.2-billion Boundbrook Urban Centre . According to Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) Chairman Lyttleton “Tanny” Shirley , the $2.8-billion construction phase will be completed in 18 months , with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) breaking ground last Thursday. The project — located on the former Boundbrook Industrial Estate — will span 6.68 acres and mirrors the developmental style of the Morant Bay Urban Centre . Shirley emphasized a strategic approach where commercial tenants begin retrofitting even as landscaping and exterior finishes are being finalized. Spearheaded by FCJ , equity partners include Barita and NCB Capital Markets . The first phase will feature 148,000 square feet of building space, including 6,000 square feet for BPO , which is expected to create 3,000 jobs . 🛠️ A Game Changer for Portland Member of Parliament...

Foreign exchange inflows into Jamaica’s market have slowed with the close of the summer season, according to NCB Capital Markets’ latest weekly market guide. The firm anticipates a continued tapering of inflows in the short term, as local businesses increase demand for Jamaican dollars to prepare for the upcoming Christmas retail period. Key Details NCB Capital Markets reports that the Jamaican dollar depreciated by 0.17% against the U.S. dollar week-over-week. The selling rate for the “greenback” moved from J$161.34 to J$161.62. This movement reflects ongoing shifts in market dynamics following reduced tourism-related FX inflows typical after summer. Liquidity in the Jamaican money market increased notably during the same period. Data show that aggregate current balances held by Deposit-Taking Institutions (DTIs) reached J$73.53 billion as of October 10, 2025 — a 12% rise compared to the previous week. Demand for short-term money market instruments remains robust. The Bank of Jama...

Blue Power Group Limited has appointed Tara Goulbourne as Chief Commercial Officer, effective October 13, 2025. The move reflects the company’s focus on commercial growth, brand expansion, and operational efficiency , following its recent recognition at the JMEA Awards . Key Details The appointment positions Goulbourne to lead Blue Power’s commercial strategy, enhancing the company’s market presence and driving sustainable growth in regional manufacturing. Jeffrey Hall , Chairman of Blue Power Group, commented: “Tara brings a wealth of experience, vision, and executional strength to Blue Power. Her leadership will sharpen our commercial strategy and drive sustainable growth as we continue to strengthen Jamaica’s position in regional manufacturing.” Goulbourne has more than a decade of leadership experience across manufacturing, financial services, and consumer goods . She previously served as a consultant to Blue Power, overseeing portfolio strategy, brand development, and inno...

  JMMB Group has reaffirmed its commitment to lowering the cost of doing business through sustained operational efficiency initiatives. The Group’s leadership, led by Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Patrick Ellis, outlined steps being taken to align expenses with revenue growth while maintaining scalability and profitability across its regional operations. Key Details During the company’s Annual General Meeting on October 10, 2025 , CFO Patrick Ellis announced that JMMB Group is working to improve its operational efficiency ratio, with a long-term target of 65–70 percent . “Our expense side, operational efficiency, and that is, as we said, part of our strategic objective… we try to ensure that our revenue grows faster than our expenses,” Ellis told shareholders. “Our operating efficiency ratio is not where we want it to be long-term. We want it to be in the 70s to 65 per cent.” He noted that although staff costs fell by two percent , other key expense areas such as insurance, d...